Converse Wins Outstanding Delegation Award at National Model Arab League
Written by Dr. Joe Dunn
The Converse Model Arab League delegation flooded the stage in purple as they won the Outstanding Delegation award at the 43th National Model Arab League (NUMAL) competition, held March 26-29, 2026 in Washington, DC.
Every Converse debater in all eight councils won a top award and Sam Bagwell received a distinguished award as a jurist in the ninth venue, the Arab Court of Justice. Because Converse had more delegates than it had slots in which to compete, three Converse individuals competed with our sister delegation from Spartanburg Community College that trains and travels to the competition with us. All three individuals won awards for SCC helping that school to the Superior Delegation award, sixth place out of the 22 schools with over 300 student participants from across the country. Four of the top six schools (and one other that received some votes) also compete in the Southeast Model Arab League conference held at Converse causing a commentator’s remark that Spartanburg is the national center of Model Arab League in the country. Also worthy of note, that Brenau University, which finished fourth, is headed by a Converse alum who designed her team on the Converse model.
A small sample of prominent universities, powers in their regional models, that Converse and SCC defeated include Indiana University, Brigham Young, Miami University, University of Houston Honors College, University of Wyoming, and the University of Colorado—Colorado Springs.
Converse doesn’t only debate but also leads as the two best chair awards went to Kaylee Warner ’26 (Nisbet Honors) as best chair and Allie Manning ’28 (Nisbet Honors), as the distinguished chair. Lynn Hanchon ’27 and Jack Stokes ’24 (Converse alum, representing the University of Arkansas-Little Rock) served as Assistant Secretary Generals. Kimberlain Williams ’26 (Nisbet Honors) presided over the whole event as Secretary-General, capping a distinguished four-year career.
For the 2027 National Model, Lynn Hanchon ’27 (Nisbet Honors) was selected as the Secretary General and Allie Manning ’28 (Nisbet Honors), Ninel Martinez-Macedo ’26, and Erin Semple ’28 (Nisbet Honors) will serve as chairs.