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MILLIGAN COLLEGE, Tenn. (Dec. 11, 2014) — Milligan College students took home honors and some advanced political experience by participating in the 25th annual Southern Regional Model United Nations (U.N.) Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, in November. The nationally-attended conference hosted nearly 700 students from 49 schools for a simulation of the U.N. and other international governing bodies.
Model U.N. aims to educate participants about current events, topics in international relations, diplomacy and the U.N. agenda. Participants research a country, take on roles as diplomats, investigate international issues, debate, deliberate, consult and then develop solutions to world problems.
Representing the Republic of Korea (South Korea), Milligan’s team included Jeff Preptit, senior; Michaela Gilstrap, senior; Ruth Aramburu, junior; Luis Trevino, senior; Daniel Ball, senior; Abby Morris, sophomore; Brittany Branker, senior; Lucy Gaudiano, sophomore; Joseph Matherly, sophomore; Emilee Hamilton, sophomore; and Zach Hollifield, junior.
Gilstrap, Hollifield, Branker and Gaudiano all received “Best Delegate” awards, and the team was recognized for their overall excellence with a “Best Delegation” award. Additionally, the award for “Best Position Paper” was given to Branker and Gaudiano, who were selected from among those on the U.N. Human Settlements Program Committee.
Milligan students employed a variety of communication and critical thinking skills in order to represent the policy of South Korea. These skills included public speaking, group communication, research, policy analysis, active listening, negotiating, conflict resolution, note taking and technical writing.
The college’s team represented South Korea in a number of simulations of U.N. committees, including the General Assembly Plenary, the Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees and the Security Council.
“The conference allowed Milligan students to experience what it would be like to serve as an ambassador to the U.N., debating real-world issues such as eliminating child trafficking, peace and security, and urban poverty,” said Dr. Amy Edmonds, assistant professor of political science and the team’s faculty advisor. “I’m proud of our students, many of whom are new to Model U.N., for all their hard work and the enthusiasm they demonstrated while preparing to fully immerse themselves as a delegation from the Republic of Korea.”
Milligan’s Model U.N. team is open to students of any year or major. There are no prerequisites.
“By investing time and resources to send students to Model U.N., Milligan demonstrates its commitment to prepare a new generation of leaders who will be ready to tackle the world’s challenges,” said Edmonds.
Preptit, a political science major and head delegate of Milligan’s Model U.N. Team, praised his experience at the conference.
“Model U.N. has helped serve as one of the greatest resources available to students here at Milligan,” said Preptit, who has been to Model U.N. three times. “It has helped prepare me for real-world interactions, like when I interned with the Syria Emergency Task Force last summer. It is a fun way to connect with students and better understand the world around us.”
The Southern Regional Model U.N., Inc., is a non-profit founded in 1990 with the mission of creating an exemplary model U.N. experience where undergraduate college students can pursue issues of international concern.
To learn more about Milligan, visit www.milligan.edu.