The Johnson County Community College (JCCC) Model United Nations team is pleased to announce that it received an Honorable Mention Delegation Award for the portrayal Zambia at the National Model United Nations Conference (NMUN) in New York City, March 15 to 21, 2013.
The Delegation Award will be presented today March 21, 2013 at United Nations General Assembly Hall.
In addition, JCCC received two Outstanding Position Paper awards for the Economic Commission for Africa (read paper) regarding the following three topics:
1.Pursuing Socially and Environmentally Sustainable Practices in Mineral Trade
2. Enhancing Good Governance through the New Partnership for Africa’s Development
3. Improving Youths’ Access to Education and Employment Opportunities
Economic and Social Council (read paper) regarding the following three topics:
1. Confronting Family Poverty and Social Exclusion
2. Strengthening Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance and Relief
3. Millennium Development Goal 2 and Increasing Access to Education
JCCC students competed against other Universities and Colleges from around the world (i.e., University of Hamburg, University of Madrid, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Northwestern Polytechnical University Xian China).
JCCC was evaluated by the conference on the following criteria for the Distinguished Award: Remaining in Character – defined as advocating your assigned country’s position in a manner consistent with economic, social and geopolitical constraints, Participating in committee – evaluated both during formal and informal (caucusing) sessions, Proper use of the rules of procedure – NMUN uses the rules of procedure to facilitate effective workings of committee and debate.
Additionally, Position Paper Awards in recognition of outstanding pre-conference preparation. The following criteria are used by the conference staff to evaluate Position Papers: Overall quality of writing, proper style, grammar, etc., Citation of relevant resolutions/documents, General consistency with bloc/geopolitical constraints, Consistency with the constraints of the United Nations, and Analysis of issues, rather than reiteration of the Committee Background Guide.
Three JCCC Students were chosen by the conference to be both chair and rapporteur’s who assist with the organization of their conference committee.
Aaron Haffey (Overland Park, KS) the General Assembly Second Committee: Economic “This committee is interesting because it depends on the progress made on Sustainable Development which also contributes to the maintenance of peace in the world.”
Mayra Ferman Romero, (Kansas City, KS) United Nations Settlements Program “This experience at NMUN has been an educational and eye-opening, allowing the JCCC team to bond together and cooperate to achieve the highest accolades possible.”
Joseph Gideon (Overland Park, KS) was chosen to Chair the Committee on Peacekeeping Operations (CPO) “The CPO offers real insight into global perspectives on the roll of peacekeeping in the world.”
In addition to the above, the JCCC teams success is attributed to Allie Owens, (Olathe, KS), Tyler Swaggerty (Lawrence, KS ) Daniel Crist (Overland Park, KS), Aaron Haffey (Overland Park, KS), Jon Parton (Overland Park, KS), Sam Zeller (Kansas City, MO), K. Jordan Holmes (Overland Park, KS) Ian Sneid (Leawood, KS) Mayra Daniela Romero Ferman (Kansas City, Kansas), Kaitlyn Sylva (Gardner, KS), Joy Lee, (Daejeon, South Korea), Linda Makau (Nairobi Kenya) and Dr. Brian Wright (team advisor, Warrensburg, MO)
“It is a very impressive achievement for JCCC students,” JCCC Model UN faculty advisor and Associate Professor Brian Wright adds that “Please understand how much of an achievement this is for JCCC. The National Model United Nations (NMUN) conference New York City is the world’s largest and most prestigious Model United Nations conference. Participants include major universities from throughout the world, each of which sets the main focus of their program on award recognition at New York. Although the NMUN conference is very large, it has kept its number of awards small and to receive one clearly says to the rest of the Model UN community that JCCC has one of the strongest programs in the world. Receiving these awards are a great experience for our students that will stay with them throughout their lives.”
This NMUN award caps eight years of success for JCCC Model UN program, during which the team has received awards at the last 25 conferences they have attended. It also completes a sweep for the school year with this JCCC team having received outstanding awards at the Mid-West Model UN in St. Louis. These conferences are an exceptional educational opportunity for JCCC students and a chance to highlight the school’s academic excellence. JCCC students prepared for the conference through research for position papers, class assignments, and participation at their own MUN simulation. A wide variety of majors are represented on this team, such as Political Science, Business, History, Nursing, Education, English, and Science.
“The NMUN conference was an unforgettable experience because of meeting students from fifty different countries. I am proud to be a part of such a successful team” said Tyler Swaggerty (Lawrence, KS). “This conference was an experience I will always value; having had the opportunity to work with great students from around the world.” Model United Nations allows students to understand the international issues at the United Nations while building skills in public speaking and diplomacy. More than 3000 students participated in the conference by proposing resolutions and writing reports dealing with world issues. The conference helps students to further understand global issues and international relations in a forum that allows them to discuss global concerns in an atmosphere that is similar to that of the United Nations.
“These awards it would not have been possible without the hard work and collaboration between of every member of this team,” said JCCC student” said Kaitlyn Sylva
Daniel Crist “When you enter the United Nations General Assembly Hall and witness so many students from around the world working on international issues. Nothing compares to the feeling of everything coming together which spending time at the United Nations. Just imagine what we can accomplish in the future.”
Ian Sneid “Learning the international perspective from those who actually hold it was very rewarding.”
Aaron Haffey “the conference is an opportunity to interact with students from around the world and solve issues in a learning environment.”
Linda Makau “The conference shows how students are working diplomatically to fine solutions to issues of human trafficking by consensus. The hope is that the United Nations can do the same.”
Joy Lee “I am glad to have the opportunity to network with future leaders from around the world. This is a wonderful learning opportunity that I will not soon forget. I am particularly proud of the contributions made by my fellow JCCC students.”
Jordan Holmes “At the NMUN conference we collaborate to find feasible solutions for solving the world’s most critical issues such as responding to hunger in Africa.”
Allie Owens “the hard work by all students at the conference is an accurate representation of diplomacy in action.”
Jon Parton “The conference is exciting experience. I am enjoying the conference and all of the opportunities that comes from the experience. We get to see New York City and the United Nations and to work with an international body of students to reach many goals.”
The JCCC Model United Nations team received five awards for its portrayal of United Kingdom at the 2013 Mid-West Model United Nations Conference St. Louis February 20-23, 2013. The Outstanding Delegation Award and Outstanding Choice Award went to Mayra Daniela Romero Ferman (Kansas City, KS) for her work on the Commission on Narcotic Drugs regarding the issues of “International cooperation to ensure the availability of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances for medical and scientific purposes while preventing their diversion,” “Reduction of the illicit demand for narcotic drugs,” “Cooperation in combating the world drug trade problem and its connection with organized crime.” St. Louis is an enjoyable educational experience that has improved my confidence. Utilizing intrapersonal, extensive writing, and speaking skills at my first Model UN conference; it was an incredible experience.” (Mayra Ferman)
Outstanding Position Paper Award went to Aaron Haffey (Overland Park, KS for his work on the Security Council on the issues of “Responsibility to Protect,” “Emerging Security Threats in West Africa,” “Women and Peace in the area of Security,” The Position Paper Award is presented in recognition of Johnson County’s pre-conference preparation. The position paper serves as a blueprint for building consensus and formulating and negotiating workable draft resolutions to resolve issues. “Learning about the complexity of the International Security issues involving the United Nations was a challenging yet intellectually awarding experience.” Aaron Haffey
In addition Aaron Haffey received an Honorable Mention Award went for his portrayal of the United Kingdom in the Security Council.
Honorable Mention Award went to Jon Parton (Overland Park, KS) for his portrayal of The Times (London, UK) with the International Press Delegation (IDP). The IDP is designed to simulate the role of the media in diplomacy and international politics. During the conference, the IPD publishes a daily newspaper, MMUN News & World Report, covering MMUN committee proceedings, world developments, and other related news. IPD participants represent different news agencies, having a chance to examine the role of regional and national press organizations in reporting and shaping differing opinions on current world issues.
Our visit to St. Louis was one of the most demanding yet rewarding experiences in my time at JCCC. The conference allowed me to use the leadership and organizational skills I had developed in the Model UN program. As a student journalist, I valued the experience of being able to work for professional reporters. Their advice and guidance allowed me to strengthen the skills required for my career. I’m extremely grateful for being granted the opportunity to go. (Jon Parton)
JCCC students competed against other Universities and Colleges from across North America. In addition to the above, the JCCC teams success is attributed to Allie Owens, (Olathe, KS), Shahnoza Seidmedova (Dashoguz, Turkmenistan), Jason Sandoy (Lenexa, KS), Tyler Swaggerty (Lawrence, KS ) Daniel Crist (Overland Park, KS), Aaron Haffey (Overland Park, KS), Jon Parton (Overland Park, KS), Sam Zeller (Kansas City, MO), JiaJia Hanson (Kansas City, MO), K. Jordan Holmes (Overland Park, KS) Ian Sneid (Leawood, KS) Mayra Daniela Romero Ferman (Kansas City, Kansas), Kaitlyn Sylva (Gardner, KS), Joy Lee, (Daejeon, South Korea), Linda Makau (Nairobi Kenya) and Dr. Brian Wright (team advisor, Warrensburg, MO ) Dr. Wright is the Secretary for the Board of Directors of the Midwest Model United Nations.
Additionally, former JCCC student and team member David Willis (Cleveland, MO) was elected 2013 Mid-West Model United Nations Conference Board of Directors.
Samatha Poetter, (Paola, KS) former JCCC student and team member was the 2012 Under Secretary General of the Mid-West Model United Nations Conference. The Under-Secretary General for Administration are responsible for organizing and managing the Mid-West Model United Nations Conference.
Model United Nations allows students to understand the international issues at the United Nations and at the same time build skills in public speaking and diplomacy. More than 600 students participated in this conference, proposing resolutions dealing with world issues. The issues discussed range from peace-keeping and human rights to economic development, and the plight of children. The conference is helping students to further understand global issues and international relations. This forum allows students to discuss global concerns in an atmosphere that is similar to that of the United Nations.
The JCCC Model UN team will next attend the National Model United Nations Conference in New York held at the United Nations March 17-21, 2013 where they will represent the country of Zambia. This conference is an exceptional educational opportunity for JCCC students and a chance to highlight the school’s academic excellence.
Shahnoza Seidmedova “I view the appreciation that Midwest Model United Nations has widened my outlook about the immense world of politics and how countries would respond to further economic, political and social changes. ”
Kaitlyn Sylva : My experience in St. Louis was fun and very educational. I learned about how different countries must cooperate to form resolutions. It also increased me public speaking abilities.
Tyler Swaggaggerly: I learned to be precise when interacting with other students. I also learned about public speaking and attention to detail is important. I learned about how to better work with others who have different views and goals. It was an amazing experience that I recommend to every JCCC student.
Allie Owens: The team work has shown is unlike any other. We learned that teamwork is very important especially in the General Assembly committee. We all utilized our strengths to develop resolutions and work with other delegations. Overall St. Louis is an experience I cannot recommend enough.
Jordan: MMUN is beneficial to anyone interested in International Relations. Interaction with students from across the country is the best possible way to apply critical thinking, social and diplomatic skills learned in the classroom. Working toward a common goal often times is challenging, but does not overshadow the rewards of participating in an international conference.
Daniel Crist: The most enjoyable part of the conference was the interaction with other students. To portray a country as a delegate was both informative and fun.