Converse Model UN Delegation Overcomes Odds for Impressive Victory

In only its second year of competition, the Converse College Model United Nations delegation showed once again why it is amongst the best in the nation. Against 75 college and university delegations, including three different universities from Nigeria, the Converse Syria delegation was judged the best delegation at the Southern Regional Model United Nations in Atlanta. 

The Converse delegations competed against teams from colleges such as the University of Florida, Florida State University, the University of Tennessee, Tulane University, the University of South Carolina, the University of North Carolina (Charlotte, Greensboro, and Asheville campuses), Mississippi State University, Agnes Scott College, Meredith College, and Morehouse College.

Officials at the United Nations Association of the United States, which runs the competition, say Model UN aims to expand students’ cultural awareness, foster interest in global affairs and promote nonviolent solutions. Students are evaluated on the quality of their position papers, their ability to represent the positions of designated countries, their knowledge of foreign affairs and their diplomatic skills.

Dr. Joe Dunn, faculty advisor for the Converse delegation, said "Our placing in the Southern Regional is especially impressive when one considers that many of our competitors compete throughout the world and have budgets in excess of $100,000. Model UN is what they specialize in but for us it is more of an ‘on the side’ activity since we primarily concentrate on competing in Model Arab League and Model NATO."

Converse’s second delegation, representing France, took one of the three Distinguished Delegation Awards, placing them between fourth and sixth in the overall competition. 

Although each delegate had to perform excellently to achieve this level of recognition, special honors went to head delegate Converse senior Nora Nassri of Orangeburg, S.C. who took top honors against more than 100 competitors in the General Assembly Plenary Committee. Converse sophomore Amanda Stevens of Walterboro, S.C. achieved the same honor in the equally large International Atomic Energy Agency. Chelsey Boggs, a junior from Blythewood, S.C., earned best delegate honors in the highly-competitive Security Council (where most delegations place their strongest individual). Megan Madison, a junior from Chester, VA was the runner up to best delegate in the League of Arab States committee. Sarah Moser of Mooresville, N.C. served as chair of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Converse is regarded as a national powerhouse with its competitive simulations Model programs. Its delegations have won at the National Model Arab League (MAL) for multiple years with victories in every regional competition during this span. In its first year of competition at Model NATO in 2005, Converse took Best Delegation.