The Howard Payne University Model UN team recently returned from Olomouc, Czech Republic, where they participated in the National Model United Nations Europe 2010 Conference.

The 12 HPU students represented the countries of Austria and The Netherlands during the mock simulation of the United Nations.

Students participating in the conference included Josh Rice, Joshua Muse, Shawn Hodge, Kathryn Burns, Kathryn Barrackman, Scott Perkins, Matt Peisker, Liz Rodgers, Callie Ellis, Zachariah Lundy, Brittany Lunsford and Nick Rayburn.

The group flew into Vienna, Austria, on the way to the conference and was able to tour the city for two days.

“Having the opportunity to visit the country that I was representing at the conference was very memorable,” said Josh Muse, who was part of the team representing Austria. “The people we met were so genuine and gracious.”

During the conference, the HPU students served on the following committees: General Assembly, NATO, Security Council and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

Senior Scott Perkins represented The Netherlands on UNESCO. He worked on resolutions with members of the other delegations and said, “it was neat to see different people work together and collaborate to try to form something of significance.”

Many international students attended the European conference, including students from the Philippines, Germany and France.

Sponsors of trip included HPU faculty members Dr. Justin Murphy, dean of the School of Humanities, professor of history and director of the Douglas MacArthur Academy of Freedom; Dr. Matthew McNiece, chair of the Department of History and associate professor of political science; and Jennifer McNiece, assistant professor of political science.

The HPU Model United Nations team was implemented in the fall of 2007. The students have attended conferences in Chicago, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C. and San Francisco. Funding for the trip was made possible by contributions from the Douglas MacArthur Academy of Freedom Board of Directors.

Photo information (photo by Dr. Matthew McNiece)

Front Row:  (l to r) Kathryn Burns, Brittany Lunsford, Kathryn Barrackman, Liz Rodgers, Callie Ellis and Matthew Peisker. Back Row: (l to r) Josh Muse, Scott Perkins, Nick Rayburn, Zachariah Lundy, Josh Rice and Shawn Hodge.