51ĀŅĀ×

Model United Nations Team wins big at Midwest Model UN Conference in St. Louis

By 51ĀŅĀ× Public Relations | Mar 2, 2026

Model United Nations team for Haiti

The team won three position paper awards and an outstanding delegation honorable mention.

 

MURRAY, Ky. — The 51ĀŅĀ× Model United Nations (UN) Team took home four awards at the Midwest Model UN Conference in St. Louis, Missouri, on Feb. 18-21. 

Position paper awards:

-UN Trade and Development: Oumou Baba Diombele and Landyn Dotson, representing Haiti.

Their committee focused on the following topics: 

-The role of women in micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises

-Implementation of regional free trade areas

 

-General Assembly Second Committee: Nate Allbritten and Ramsey Watson, representing Haiti.

Their committee focused on the following topics: 

-Promoting agricultural development for food security

-E-commerce and the digital economy for the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8 

 

-UN Environment Assembly: Nate Hunt and Madeline West. Their committee focused on the following topics:

-Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 and the right to water for all

-Sustainable action for good mineral resource governance

Outstanding Delegation Honorable Mention: 

Laney Evans,  Sam Jackanicz, Claire McCormick, Gracie Tomolonis and Aiden Wild, representing Australia.

Dr. Brittany Wood, assistant professor of political science, is faculty advisor to 51ĀŅĀ× State’s Model UN Team.

ā€œOur Model UN team has been preparing for this conference since August, dedicating countless hours to research, debate and collaboration,ā€ said Wood. ā€œTheir hard work, discipline and commitment to excellence have truly paid off, and I could not be more proud of what they have accomplished.ā€

Dr. Marc Polizzi, associate professor and chair of the political science and sociology departments, added, ā€œThe conference served as an opportunity for students to tackle complex global issues and to negotiate with delegations from other universities. The students distinguished themselves as outstanding representatives of 51ĀŅĀ× State. They collaborated effectively with the other schools, illustrating their diplomatic skills. They consistently stepped out of their comfort zones and put forth their best efforts throughout the conference. I was proud to see their maturity, teamwork and dedication.ā€

More than 35 delegations from 29 universities participated in the conference.

51ĀŅĀ× State Model UN Team members include:

Representing Australia:

Sam Jackanicz of Trenton, Florida (Major: Engineering Physics)

Laney Evans of Calvert City, Kentucky (Major: Political Science/Public Relations)

Claire McCormick of Shumway, Illinois (Major: English/Literature)

Aiden Wild of Almo, Kentucky (Major: Economics)

Gracie Tomolonis of Paris, Tennessee (Major: Political Science/Legal Studies)

 Representing Haiti:

Oumou Baba Diombele of Bamako, Mali (Major: International Studies)

Ali Khatib of 51ĀŅĀ×, Kentucky (Major: Political Science/Legal Studies)

Nathaniel Hunt of Bethalto, Illinois (Major: Political Science/Pre-Law)

Landyn Dotson of Mount Vernon, Illinois (Major: Political Science)

Josselyn Hernandez of Huntingdon, Tennessee (Major: Political Science/Legal Studies)

Madeline West of Owensboro, Kentucky (Major: Political Science/Legal Studies)

Ramsey Watson of Henderson, Kentucky (Major: Biology/Biomedical Science)

Nate Allbritten of Paducah, Kentucky (Major: Political Science)

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