Baylor Team Continues Success at Washington Model Organization of American States

Media contact: Lori Fogleman, director of media communications, (254) 710-6275

The Baylor Model Organization of American States (MOAS) team continued its tradition of success at this year's Model Organization of American States meeting, held April 7-11 in Washington, D.C.

Seth Reed, a senior political science and economic major from Cassville, Mo., served as president of this year's model, and Joshua Hyles, a graduate student in history from Mabank, served as chair of the Budgetary Affairs Committee. This marks the fifth conference in nine years of participation that a Baylor student has been elected president and the third consecutive year Baylor has held the budgetary chair.

Additionally, Baylor students were elected to three of the five top officer positions for 2010: Renee Sanchez, Head Delegate and a senior biology major from Brownsville, was elected president of next year's Model; Michael Lyssy, a freshman political science major from Falls City, was elected chair of the Committee on Integral Development; and Hunter Klein, a senior political science major from Tomball, was elected as chair of the Budgetary Affairs Committee.

Opening and closing ceremonies were held in the Hall of the Americas in the Organization of American States Headquarters. At the opening ceremony, José Miguel Insulza, Secretary General of the OAS, addressed more than 400 students representing all 34 of the organization's active members. Members represented universities across the United States, including Baylor, Air Force Academy, Tulane and Drexel, and countries such as Argentina, Venezuela, Colombia, Guatemala, Ecuador and the Bahamas.

Baylor's team represented the country of Mexico and was able to visit with Héctor Agustín Ortega Nieto at the Mexican Mission to the OAS. Ortega reviewed the Baylor team's position paper and resolutions and praised the Baylor team's preparations.

"From the different schools that I have received (from the U.S. and from other countries) your students are the ones that have been more informed about Mexico and that have presented the more interesting resolutions," Ortega said.

Other team members included: Krystal Dau, Co-Head Delegate and a senior international studies major from Las Vegas, Nev.; Ariel Alexander, a senior French and international studies major from Córdoba, Argentina; Emmanuel Muñoz, a senior neuroscience major from San Antonio; Tyler Talbert, a junior international studies major from Waco); Monica Uribe, a senior music performance major from Harlingen; T.J. Cheavens Jr., a senior international studies major from Austin; Ricardo Felix, a senior international studies major from Waco; and Torie Rhodes, a sophomore international studies and French major from Pasadena, Calif.

Dr. Joan E. Supplee, The Ralph L. and Bessie Mae Lynn Professor of History at Baylor, serves as faculty advisor for Baylor's MOAS team. The team will return to San Antonio for its fall conference in November.

For more information, contact Supplee at (254) 710-6294 or Joan_Supplee@baylor.edu.