Howard Payne University’s Model United Nations (MUN) team recently competed at the St. Gallen Model United Nations 2025 Conference in Switzerland, where HPU had the most awarded delegation. HPU students received Best Delegate awards in three of the four committees where they had delegates represented. The competition included 148 students from 14 different countries.

Model United Nations takes current world issues and asks students, who represent various countries as delegates, to try to solve them through diplomatic means. Students learn the art of diplomacy through caucusing, writing position papers and presenting in formal settings, all while following the model of the United Nations.

Andrew Mathis, junior Guy D. Newman Honors Academy and history major from Brenham won best delegate of the UNESCO committee. Ana Faulk, sophomore Academy and history major from Alvarado, also earned a commendation in this committee. Kedren Penney, freshman business major from Tyler, won best delegate of IAEA, a committee focused on protecting the environment and vulnerable peoples from nuclear waste. Michael Jones, sophomore Academy and history major from Rockport, won best delegate of the Papal Conclave, a committee that simulated the selection of a new pope.

“I knew early on this semester we had a super strong delegation,” said Dr. Dave Claborn, professor of government and MUN advisor. “This was Drew’s first semester as Head Delegate, and half our team was brand new to Model UN. So, although I knew we were great, winning the whole conference for the third semester in a row was a wonderful surprise. There were two top 25 teams in the world in that conference. I am so proud of this team!”

Mathis served as head delegate of the team. Competing for HPU in addition to Mathis, Faulk, Penney and Jones were Maddie Duncan, senior from Abilene; Evan Eckert, junior from Temple; Kourtney Melton, junior from Katy; and Eliana Range, sophomore from Sherman.

Duncan is the most decorated delegate on the current HPU MUN team and served in an expert-level committee. This was Eckert’s first time to compete and he skillfully represented North Korea in his delegation. Range was also a first-time delegate and worked on the IAEA committee as Ukraine where she ably represented a country in the midst of a tumultuous time. The Papal Conclave committee members affirmed Melton by voting for her for multiple informal awards.

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