{"id":372,"date":"2016-08-18T17:41:04","date_gmt":"2016-08-18T17:41:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.spcollege.edu\/law-and-policy\/?p=372"},"modified":"2024-02-12T08:37:01","modified_gmt":"2024-02-12T13:37:01","slug":"spc-model-united-nations-delegation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.spcollege.edu\/social-behavioral-sciences-human-services-educational-information\/spc-model-united-nations-delegation\/","title":{"rendered":"SPC’s Model United Nations Team: A Diverse Delegation #SPCInspires"},"content":{"rendered":"

St. Petersburg College\u2019s Model United Nations team<\/a> was honored as an Outstanding Delegation at the National Model United Nations (NMUN) conference in New York.<\/p>\n

Outstanding Delegation is the highest award given at the New York conference, which hosted more than 3,000 delegates this year, and puts SPC\u2019s Model UN team in the top 10 percent of teams in the world.<\/p>\n

A total of 16 St. Petersburg College students, including Early College and international students, participated in the week-long conference. Two students, Dragana Mitric and Kayla Li, also received awards for Outstanding Position Papers.<\/p>\n

The NMUN extends across the world. Fifty-seven percent of students who participate are not U.S. residents, which ensures an opportunity for students to gain cultural perspective within a\u00a0delegation process that helps shape students\u2019 career aspirations and, potentially, global policy.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThe diversity in our team helped us succeed,\u201d said Li, an Early College student in her senior year. \u201cPart of the conference includes being able to come up with strategies that all countries can compromise and agree upon, so being aware of different viewpoints is crucial to being able to come up with the best plan.\u201d<\/p>\n

St. Petersburg College\u2019s Model United Nations team included students representing many different ethnicities and academic programs.<\/p>\n

\u201cDiversity helped, as our team at SPC was able to connect with students from other countries to develop our ideas,\u201d said Christopher Duggan, who is working towards his Associate in Arts degree at St. Petersburg College and plans to pursue a bachelor\u2019s degree in Philosophy.<\/p>\n

SPC\u2019s Model UN represented the small country of Luxembourg, and each student was assigned to specific committees to discuss problems and resolutions. The delegates research their assigned country\u2019s history, politics and finances. They are also required to remain in character during the entire delegation process and are graded on how well they perform.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are expected to represent the ideals and policies of our country in all of our actions,\u201d Li said. \u201cIf we agree with a paper or an idea, it is because our country would agree with the paper or idea.\u201d<\/p>\n

The SPC committees tackled difficult subjects, from cyber security to efforts to control weapons of mass destruction. Students said the hands-on activities and lessons in teamwork were especially valuable.<\/p>\n

\u201cI learned that if you take the time to walk around, listen to everyone in your committee and contribute to their work, it will be to your benefit,\u201d Duggan said. \u201cOften, the other delegations will feed off of your energy and will yearn to work with your country\u2019s delegation.\u201d<\/p>\n

In addition to experiences provided by the conference, students were able to explore New York City \u2013 a first for many of them.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had never ridden a subway before, and it was interesting to see so many talented artists playing their music,\u201d Li said.\u00a0They visited the Empire State Building and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and sat in the same chairs that world leaders do at the United Nations headquarters.<\/p>\n

They visited the Empire State Building and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and sat in the same chairs that world leaders do at the United Nations headquarters.<\/p>\n

The Model UN initiative at St. Petrsburg College places strong emphasis on research and experiential learning. Students gain critical thinking skills and knowledge about international organizations, processes for conflict resolution and insight into how countries diplomatically engage one another. Over the last several years, St. Petersburg College has gained worldwide recognition for its Model UN program, which competes against large four-year universities, including Ivy League schools.<\/p>\n

Model UN students gain invaluable leadership experience that helps them in their careers and other future endeavors, said Roy Slater, Professor of Social Science and mentor to the Model UN at SPC.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe certainly have seen the Model UN impact in shaping student perspectives of the world as well as the work that they would like to engage in after St. Petersburg College,\u201d Slater said. \u201cMany students share how much this experience has changed their lives.\u201d<\/p>\n