Baylor Students Sweep Government Simulation Competition

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Media contact: Terry Goodrich, (254) 710-3321
WACO, Texas (Dec. 4, 2014) – Victory was the verdict after Baylor University Model Organization of American States (MOAS) class hosted a regional competition, earning more than a dozen individual and team awards.
“As conference hosts, we weren’t very polite,” Joan Supplee, Ph.D., professor of history and MOAS faculty sponsor, joked about the abundance of awards.
The recent simulation, composed of 15 universities from Texas, Louisiana and Mexico, mimicked the work of the general assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS), a hemispheric body that brings together the democratically elected leaders of the Americas to discuss security, human rights and development. Student representatives presented and defended resolutions that covered issues like improving economic competitiveness, expanding private sector partnerships, minimizing the impact of drugs and drug trafficking, promoting democracy through youth education and establishing a budget.
“The competition prepares them to speak publicly, teaches them how to formulate an argument in debate and encourages them to work as a team,” Supplee said.
This year senior Pia Lawrence was president of the model and chaired the General Committee. Junior Lauren Lee served as the secretary general and chaired the Executive Secretariat for Integral Development. Baylor University also provided delegations representing the countries of Ecuador and Colombia.
On the Colombian delegation were Aaron Fields, Alex Plott, Ewan Hamilton-Short, Mucia Flores, Kesley Shelton, Anitria Flores, Richard Horace and Jillian Anderson. The Ecuador delegation consisted of Joan Stanton, Bonnie Cantwell, Micah-Leah Woolley, Katie McAfee, Sean Browning, Rustin Bridges and Andrew Salinas.
The following were awards earned by Baylor participants in no particular order:
• Outstanding committee: General Committee
• Outstanding Chair: Lauren Lee
• Outstanding Rapporteur: Florence Francis
• Outstanding Delegation Award: Ecuador team
• Distinguished Delegation: Colombia team
• Best Position Paper Awards: Colombia team
• Outstanding Delegate: Joan Stanton, Bonnie Cantwell, Kelsey Shelton
• Distinguished Ambassador: Joan Stanton
• Outstanding Budgetary Statement: Katie McAfee
• Distinguished Delegate: Katie McAfee, Sean Browning and Andrew Salinas
• Outstanding Written Resolution: Rustin Bridges
• Distinguished Written Resolution: Jillian Anderson and Richard Horace
• Outstanding Committee Delegate: Richard Horace
The fall competition is one of three that Baylor’s MOAS class competes in. There is also one in Washington, D.C. and a model that takes place internationally conducted in Spanish. This marks the 18th year Baylor University has participated in the regional competition.
by Sarah Czerwinski, student newswriter, (254) 710-6805
For more information, contact Joan Supplee
ABOUT MOAS
The Model Organization of American States (MOAS) for universities began 33 years ago, and a Model General Assembly for high schools quickly followed. At Baylor, the program began in 1997 under the leadership of Political Science Professor, Janet E. Adamski, and History Professor, Joan Supplee. The MOAS is now a one credit academic course in the fall semester and a three credit academic course in the spring semester. By participating in MOAS, students develop international public policies on issues affecting the Americas and apply theory learned in the classroom.
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 16,000 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 12 nationally recognized academic divisions. Baylor sponsors 19 varsity athletic teams and is a founding member of the Big 12 Conference.