Students shine at Model UN event

Students from the University of North Georgia (UNG) won five awards at the Southern Regional Model United Nations (SRMUN) Conference at the Hyatt Regency in Atlanta, Georgia, in November. A total of 36 UNG students participated in the event, which drew about 500 students from multiple states. UNG's awards included:

• Outstanding Position Paper Award for the Philippines (Felipe Darquea, Ryan Gentry, Gabby Henriques, Benji Leonard, Claudia Marban, Jonathan Miranda, Sofia Quiros, Phoenix Rabe).
• Outstanding Position Paper Award for Bangladesh (Madison Blankenship, Kiri Feldhaus, Ivania Fuentes, Derek Johnson, Theodora Kalanyos, Madison Lussier, Landon Magnussen, Haniya Rizwan).
• Best Position Paper Award in the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific for Bangladesh (Ivania Fuentes and Haniya Rizwan).
• Best Delegate in the General Assembly Plenary for the Philippines (Ryan Gentry and Phoenix Rabe).
• Honorable Mention for Italy (Ally Freligh, Greg Fuentes, Katelynn Melko, Melani Sotelo-Leon, Elizabeth Quartapella, Jordan Strecker, Vincent Tiberia, Gabrielle Weir, Nicolas Zamudio).

UNG's Model UN team is a combination of students in a course by the same name and student clubs on UNG's Dahlonega and Gainesville campuses.

Gentry, a senior from Buford, Georgia, pursuing a degree in psychology and a minor in Japanese, was grateful for the way other students responded to the diplomatic efforts he and Rabe launched. This was Gentry's third Model UN event overall and second time at SRMUN. He said the high-pressure negotiations of the competition were a catalyst for growth.

"It honed a lot of skills I already had," Gentry said. "I was forced to use them in this crockpot scenario."

Weir, a senior from Cartersville, Georgia, pursuing a degree in political science with a pre-law concentration, was in her second competitive Model UN event after taking part in UNG's on-campus competition in spring 2025.

"I really enjoyed the research portion," Weir said. "That's something I've always been interested in."

Quiros, a junior from Cleveland, Georgia, pursuing a degree in political science, served as head delegate for the Philippines at SRMUN. Her goal is to earn a master's degree in international affairs and also complete a juris doctor degree. She appreciated the hands-on nature of the competition.

"It's a great opportunity for students to improve their skills while also making friends along the way," she said.

Rabe, a sophomore from Jefferson, Georgia, pursuing a degree in political science, learned about the Model UN competition from Chand on the first day of class in the fall after transferring from Middle Georgia State University. The transfer student has already launched a student group, Starting Bridge USA, and is grateful for how UNG is shaping him.

"I'm getting out there in politics so I can build my resume," Rabe said. "All of these opportunities propel me toward a career in politics in ways that I didn't understand beforehand."

Strecker, a sophomore from Lilburn, Georgia, pursuing a degree in international affairs with a European concentration, examined how to bring food into war-torn areas without impacting sovereignty in his SRMUN work representing Italy.

"This competition helped me get more familiar with international affairs," Strecker said.

Fuentes, a junior from Atlanta, Georgia, said Model UN, his coursework and mentorship from Miner are putting him on the path to law school.

"UNG provides you with the resources necessary to succeed," he said.

The conference offered a valuable growth opportunity for the students.

"They were very supportive of each other and performed very well," said Dr. Bibek Chand, associate professor of political science and international affairs and Model UN faculty adviser at the Gainesville Campus.

Dr. Jon Miner, a professor of political science and Model UN faculty adviser at the Dahlonega Campus, said SRMUN was a great professional development setting.

"The applicability of the skills at the conference helps these students in whichever job they start after graduation," Miner said.

The ninth annual Model UN Conference at UNG is set to be held March 27 from 8:15 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Health Sciences Building. Students can register following this link if interested. The theme for this year's conference is "Addressing the Rights of Migrants and Freedom of Movement." The event is open to students pursuing any degree at UNG.