Baylor Model United Nations Team Receives Awards at State Conference

Follow us on Twitter:
@BaylorUMediaCom
Contact: Terry Goodrich, Assistant Director of Media Communications, (254) 710-3321
WACO, Texas (March 8, 2013) - Representing the nations of Russia, Rwanda and Togo, members of Baylor University's Model United Nations team received awards at the inaugural Howard Payne Model United Nations Security Council simulation held March 1 through March 2 in Brownwood, Texas.

Seven Baylor students participated in the conference, researching emergency responses to a simulated terrorist attack on oil pipelines and how the global economy would be affected. Laura Beth Hooper and Ryan Hebert won "Outstanding Delegation" for their representation of the Russian Federation. Honorable mentions for "Best Delegate" went to Laaron Backry and Matt Demond for their representation of Togo and Rwanda, respectively. Additionally, Backry earned an honorable mention with Vanessa Azodo for their policy memo representing the delegation of Togo. Cagney McCauley, the assistant head delegate of Baylor's team, served as a chair for the conference.

"While the learning experience is always the most important part of these conferences, it is an honor for our students to be recognized for their excellent performance," said Rebecca Flavin, lecturer of political science in the College of Arts & Sciences and faculty adviser for Baylor's team. "The seven students who attended the conference represented Baylor well, and I'm proud of each of them. It's especially noteworthy that for five of the seven students, this was their first collegiate MUN conference."

Members of the team will travel next to New York City, where 17 Baylor students will represent the nations of Slovakia and South Africa at the National Model United Nations Conference, March 23 through March 28. This is one of the largest and most prestigious conferences in collegiate Model United Nations.

For further information about Baylor Model United Nations, please contact Rebecca Flavin by e-mail at Rebecca_Flavin@baylor.edu.

by Brent Salter, student newswriter, (254) 710-6805

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.