(BLACK PR WIRE) – MIAMI GARDENS — Florida Memorial University (FMU) students brought home the gold during the 31st Annual Bethune-Cookman University Model United Nations Conference.
Model United Nations (MUN) is an academic simulation that educates participants about topics in current events, international relations, diplomacy and the United Nations agenda. This year’s theme was “Ensuring Advancements in Human Rights, Technology, and Peace and Security.”
The conference was divided into three committees of which FMU delegations served on two. Students debated with delegates from other schools representing the United States, China, Dominica, Lebanon and South Africa. FMU students successfully introduced resolutions in both committees. Through intense negotiations and remarkable oratorical debate skills, the students were able to convince other delegates to sign the resolutions, leading to the adoption of both resolutions in their respective committees.
FMU won half of the competition’s available awards. Team members included Danielle Terrelonge, Jarlens Princilis and Thandika Thompson of FMU’s Saudi Arabia Delegation; and Julian Coakley, Fenel Etienne, Marcos Gonzalez and Jamielle Whittaker of FMU’s Switzerland Delegation
Julian Coakley won Best Delegate for Switzerland, Danielle Terrelonge won Best Delegate for Saudi Arabia, and the Saudi Arabia delegation won Best Delegation. Winning half of the available awards, FMU’s two student delegations bested teams from Stetson University, Bethune-Cookman University, Savannah State University and other institutions.
“The experience was very challenging because we were not given the specific details – only a theme,” said Danielle Terrelong, senior political science and public administration student. “In preparation, we did a lot of research, but we had to perform off the cuff.”
During the simulation, students gained hands-on experience in civic engagement, communications, international relations and diplomacy through re-creations of activities conducted by the United Nations. To capture the roles of representatives of different countries, students conducted research on that country’s culture, economy and strategic goals, as well as relevant regional and global issues. During sessions, students discussed, debated and worked together to find solutions.
“The environment was very competitive. We had previous best delegate wins, but we never took two delegations to the competition,” said Olivia Jackson, Ph.D., Model UN advisor and political science and international relations professor. “I am impressed that our students defeated other teams that featured students from schools noted for training lawyers.”
Photo: COURTESY OF FLORIDA MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY
OUTSTANDING DELEGATION: Representing Florida Memorial University during the 31st Annual Model United Nations Conference at Bethune-Cookman University recently were, sitting from left, Thandika Thompson, Julian Coakley and Jamielle Whittaker; standing, Danielle Terrelonge, Marcos Gonzalez, Fenel Etienne and Jarlens Princilis.
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