Randolph students honored at National Model United Nations

(left to right) East Cao ’16 and Penny Trieu ’15 won an award for best position paper at the National Model United Nations conference.

Two Randolph College students won an award at the National Model United Nations Conference (NMUN) in New York City, March 29-April 3.

Penny Trieu ’15 and East Cao ’16, sitting on the Human Rights Council, won an award for best position paper. Position papers are policy memos prepared in advance of the conference by student delegates announcing the position they will take on issues on behalf of the countries they represent.

The Randolph College delegation in the main hall of the United Nations in New York City.

This year the Randolph delegation represented the Republic of the Maldives, the smallest Asian country in both land and population. Concerned with rising sea levels (the island nation has an elevation of only 1.5 meter), Maldivian officials play a prominent role in international climate change discussions.

The award adds to an already impressive list of Model UN awards. Under the direction of faculty advisor and political science professor Jennifer Dugan, the Randolph team regularly brings home awards for outstanding delegations and excellent position papers. Participation on the Model UN team is competitive and selective. Enrollment in Political Science 220 “Global Issues at the United Nations” is required of all participants.

The 2015 Randolph delegates were head delegate Sam Terry ’16, Donald Saltmarsh ’16, Kristiana Kuqi ’18, Erica Quinby ’17, Danielle Lewis ’15, Monica Ashby ’15, Connor Dye ’15, Sarah Terlizzi ’15, Sandeep Poudyal ’16, Eva Heitbrink ’17, Erica Quijano ’17, Penny Trieu’15, East Cao ’16, Rebekah Leo ’15, and Sam Hazelwood ’16.

(left to right) Sarah Terlizzi ’15, Erica Quinby ’17, Professor Jennifer Dugan, and Monica Ashby ’15.

While in New York, the student delegates met alumnae and alumni at a reception hosted by Kathy Brown ’76.

The NMUN conference originated in 1923 as a simulation of the League of Nations. The NMUN adopted its present form in 1946 after the creation of the United Nations. The conference is the largest and one of the most prestigious collegiate Model United Nations programs in the world. With more than 4,000 participating students, it is the world’s largest, university-level UN simulation.

Student participation and travel to the Model UN conference is made possible by support from the Sheldon and Chrystine Hicks Endowed Global Studies Fund and a generous gift from Marilyn Hicks Fitzgerald ’68 and Michael P. Fitzgerald.

Read the Randolph Model UN blog model-un.go.randolphcollege.edu