The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Model United Nations team distinguished itself as owner of a world-record 24 consecutive Outstanding Delegation awards at the 2008 National Model U.N. competition.
The team earned its most recent Outstanding Delegation distinction for its representation of South Africa when it competed April 21 to 26 at U.N. headquarters in New York City.
Kenneth J. Grieb, International Studies coordinator and UW Oshkosh Model U.N. Organization faculty adviser, called this winning streak an “amazing accomplishment.”
“This makes a significant statement about the quality of students at UW Oshkosh and the quality of education those students are receiving, by demonstrating that generations of UW Oshkosh students stand well above their peers from other universities throughout the country and, indeed, the world,” Grieb said.
Five UW Oshkosh student committee members of the South African delegation also were named outstanding delegates for exceptional work in their committees — more than any other country at the competition — and two were elected as vice presidents.
The international competition is the largest of its kind and involves 4,700 students from 290 universities representing 37 states, five Canadian Provinces and 26 countries on five continents.
Students are judged on their diplomatic and negotiating skills, their ability to write legal documents that embody the agreements reached by the U.N., the accuracy with which they represent their respective nations, their knowledge of global issues, their familiarity with the U.N. system and its procedures, practices, bodies and committees, and their speaking ability.
The UW Oshkosh delegation also received an Outstanding Position Paper Award for the student-written papers submitted in advance of the sessions. The position papers were reviewed by diplomats and U.N. officials, who praised their accuracy and clarity.
“I am really excited about the level of detail in your questions and research, which demonstrate extensive knowledge about Africa. It is a pleasure to meet with a group of students so intensely knowledgeable about African affairs,” said Patrick Hayford, director of the Office of the Special Adviser to the Secretary General on Africa, at the conclusion of a two-hour position-paper review and question-and-answer session with UW Oshkosh students.
UW Oshkosh students Jeremiah D. Slinde and Carolyn Kirchhoff were elected vice presidents of the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council, respectively.
The UW Oshkosh students recognized as outstanding delegates of their committee were Mary Nikoo and Robert Reeves IV in the Third Committee; Amanda Cone and Steven Koplitz in the Second Committee; Kirchhoff, head delegate, and David Litman in the Economic and Social Council; Corey Edwards and Rebecca Kemnitz in the Commission on Human Settlements; and Veronica Dreymiller and Kasey Erb in the African Union.
This year’s participants included the following students:
Baraboo
Amanda Cone, Outstanding Delegate of the Second Committee
Fond du Lac
David Litman, Outstanding Delegate of the Economic and Social Council
Patrick O’Loughlin
Brandon Strand
Marathon
Rebecca Kijack
Madison
Brenna Ranzen
Manitowoc
Robert Reeves IV, Outstanding Delegate of the Third Committee
Marshall
Kasey Erb, Outstanding Delegate of the African Union
Milwaukee
Carolyn Kirchhoff, Head Delegate, Outstanding Delegate and Vice President of the Economic and Social Council
Mary Nikoo, Outstanding Delegate of the Third Committee
Oconto
Demetria Dickinson
Omro
Steven Koplitz, Outstanding Delegate of the Second Committee
Oshkosh
Corey Edwards, Outstanding Delegate of the Commission on Human Settlements
Andrew Fisher
Matt Kitzman
Alex Kurowski
River Falls
Benjamin Thornsberry
Stoughton
Marci DeYoung
Union Grove
Kayleigh Benson
Waupun
Veronica Dreymiller, Outstanding Delegate of the African Union
Wausau
Rebecca Kemnitz, Outstanding Delegate of the Commission on Human Settlements
Wauwatosa
Jane Reinhardt
West Bend
Jeremiah Slinde, Vice President of the General Assembly.