Baylor Professional Sales Student Excels at Model UN Conference

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WACO, Texas (Dec. 19, 2013) - Earlier this month, Tyler Kopas, a senior Professional Sales student from Phoenix, Ariz., traveled to Chicago as Baylor University's Model UN Head Delegate and was recognized as the "Outstanding Delegate" by his committee, the highest award that an individual student can be given at the conference.
"I was selected for this award by my fellow delegates from different schools. The primary criteria are knowledge on the subject and the ability to lead and work with others in achieving the goals of the committee," said Kopas. "This honor was special to me because as an individual delegate in a committee with numerous team delegations I was still able to impact the committee and make a positive contribution."
The American Model United Nations Conference, which brings together more than 1,000 college students to participate in a simulation of the United Nations, took place in Chicago, Illinois this year. A total of fourteen Baylor students participated in the conference.
Kopas, when asked about the importance of preparing for the competition said, "The skills I've learned from the ProSales curriculum are critical because they helped me hone my research skills as well as my leadership and interpersonal skills."
This is only the latest award for Kopas, who has brought individual honors home to Baylor in the last three conferences, including multiple "Outstanding Delegate" awards and an "Outstanding Position Paper" award, a short policy memo researched and prepared in advance of the conference.
Kopas also observed that there are benefits to participating in Model UN conferences that translate to the business world. "This conference taught me a lot about how to work with people in a number of different situations. Everyone in the room is trying to lead and make an impact in their own way," said Kopas. "I learned how to work with and lead people with different backgrounds and with a variety of skills and determine how to best combine the skills of the room to make the most progress possible."
According to Rebecca McCumbers Flavin, Lecturer and leader of Baylor's Model UN program, "Tyler's background in ProSales provides him with both academic and interpersonal tools that help him to succeed at Model UN conferences. He is not only able to draw in his course-work and apply it to issues in committee such as promoting international development and economic growth, but he is also able to apply networking skills as he negotiates with other students in committee."

Dedicated to excellence in sales education and based in the university's Hankamer School of Business, the Center for Professional Selling is recognized as one of the premier global information resources for the sales profession. For more information on the Center for Professional Selling, visit https://www.baylor.edu/business/selling.

ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY

Baylor University is a private Christian university and a nationally ranked research institution, characterized as having "high research activity" by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The university provides a vibrant campus community for approximately 15,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating university in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 11 nationally recognized academic divisions. Baylor sponsors 19 varsity athletic teams and is a founding member of the Big 12 Conference.

ABOUT HANKAMER SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

Baylor University's Hankamer School of Business provides a rigorous academic experience, consisting of classroom and hands-on learning, guided by Christian commitment and a global perspective. Recognized nationally for several programs, including Entrepreneurship and Accounting, the school offers 24 undergraduate and 13 graduate areas of study. Visit www.baylor.edu/business and follow on Twitter at Twitter.com/Baylor_Business.