HPU students honored at virtual Model U.N. competition

May 12, 2021 at 10:40 am Derrick Stuckly

Local News

HPU’s Model United Nations team earned three awards at a recent virtual conference. Pictured are Jacob Lehrer of Midland; Sierra Ross of Galveston; Madison Tuck of Edgewood, New Mexico; Madeline DuPré of Leander; Hallie Burden of Nederland; and Joseph Lahmann of Killeen. [Photo courtesy of HPU]

Howard Payne University’s Model United Nations (MUN) team recently participated in a virtual conference hosted in Montreal, Canada. Three students were recognized as Outstanding Delegates: Sierra Ross, a senior from Galveston majoring in the Guy D. Newman Honors Academy and social science (jurisprudence); Joseph Lahmann, a senior from Killeen majoring in management; and Hallie Burden, a sophomore from Nederland majoring in social work.

The international conference included more than 140 students in delegations representing 22 institutions located in Canada, China, England, Germany, Indonesia and Uganda, as well as the United States. HPU’s three awards were of a total of six that were presented to the four American institutions represented at the conference.

Dr. David Claborn, professor of government and MUN faculty sponsor at HPU, said the team’s performance spoke to their preparation and the standard of excellence the students strive to achieve.

“Our team had a shortened preparation time and still found a way to take home as many awards as the other three U.S. teams combined,” said Dr. Claborn. “And they have 24,000 students to draw from. It’s so easy to be proud of these guys.”

Madison Tuck, a sophomore from Edgewood, New Mexico, majoring in the Honors Academy and psychology (general), also represented HPU at the conference and helped lead her committee to a win.

HPU’s delegation of six was led by head delegates Madeline DuPré, a senior from Leander majoring in the Honors Academy, psychology (general) and social science (jurisprudence); and Jacob Lehrer, a senior from Midland majoring in the Honors Academy and social science (jurisprudence). The competition was the final MUN conference of DuPré’s and Lehrer’s collegiate careers.

Model United Nations is a diplomatic simulation that uses current world issues to allow students to practice problem-solving. Participants represent various nations as delegates and follow diplomatic procedure, including caucusing, writing position papers and presenting in formal settings, following the model of the United Nations.