For 32 consecutive years, the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Model United Nations team has won Outstanding Delegation awards at National Model United Nations, the world’s largest Model UN held in New York March 27–31.
UW Oshkosh received two Outstanding Delegation awards, the highest level of award, making this the fifth consecutive year that UW Oshkosh students represented two countries and received two Outstanding Delegation Awards. Only two universities from among the 200 universities globally won two Outstanding Delegation awards.
This year UW Oshkosh students represented the African nation of Uganda and the Pacific island nation of Kiribati.
“UW Oshkosh students clearly stood out among their peers from universities throughout the world in their knowledge of international affairs and the diplomatic process in continuing their record of excellence maintained for more than 32 years at the world’s largest Model United Nations,” said Kenneth Grieb, coordinator of International Studies and faculty adviser for the UW Oshkosh Model UN team.
In addition to the team awards, UW Oshkosh delegates were named as the Outstanding Delegates in five of the eleven committees on which Uganda was represented.
More than 5,500 student competitors from more than 200 universities in 46 countries were involved in the week-long 2016 competition. Student delegates debated and negotiated agreements regarding a wide range of current issues and world events from the agenda of the real UN, covering political, economic and social topics.
“Model UN is really more of a team than a club, and we research international issues and try to solve issues,” said Nicole Lehto, senior international studies and economics major and UWO Model UN president. “We select countries and try to represent them as best as possible and, at the same time, we study diplomacy and negotiation and work with other delegates across the globe.”
Participating students are judged on their diplomatic and negotiating skills, their ability to write legal documents that embody the agreements reached, the accuracy with which they represent their respective nations, their knowledge of global issues, their familiarity with the United Nations system and its procedures, practices, bodies and committees, and their speaking ability.
To prepare, the team met every week and has assignments. Each team member completes research and brings it back to the next meeting.
“As an international studies major everything in Model UN is something I can use in my major,” said Chandler Lackey, junior international studies major. “We talk about social, political and economic issues and deal with them in committees. I was a political delegate, so talking about the different policies will help me. Since I have a business emphasis, it will also help me in discussing how to carry out programs.”
Members of the UW Oshkosh delegation representing Uganda were: Nicole Lehto, West Bend, Head Delegate; Samantha Asselin, Sheboygan Falls; Morgan Barthen, Menomonie; Kelly Brown, Pewaukee; Matthew Clowney, Elkhorn; Daniel Dennis, Middleton; Valerie Hagen, Black Wolf; Colleen Huston, Hoffman Estates, IL; Stephanie Liechty, Oregon; Allison Mahnke, Sun Prairie; Andria Marsh, Neenah; Melinda Medrow, Oshkosh; Karee Orrick, Sister Bay; Andrew Pflanzer, Oconomowoc; Sarah Rowley, Port Washington; Alicia Spietz, Oshkosh; Christopher Stočkus, West Salem; Zachery Stuebs, Campbellsport; Lachlann Swanson, Belleville; Lindsey Tyson, Oshkosh; Zachary Vetter, Mayville; and Adam Wolf, Oshkosh.
Members of the UW Oshkosh delegation representing Kiribati were: Nicholas Charles, Green Bay, Head Delegate; Derek Endries, Newton; Chris Henkel, Oshkosh; Samantha Nelson-Zirzow, Hartland; Carrie Reed, Oshkosh; Maryam Savage, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso; Jordalyn Simpson, Poynette; Genevieve Smith, Rio; and Jacob Stuebs, Campbellsport.
Lehto, who is graduating in May, said she feels ready for the real world and is prepared to take the next step.
“When I was looking for a college, I researched and found a good international studies program at UWO and then found Model UN,” Lehto said. “That’s why I came to UWO. I was going to transfer after two years and go to Madison, but after staying with the team for a year, I knew it was a great program and it really pushed me to do my best.”
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