ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA – The France delegation from Catawba Ridge High School won top honors March 27 at the 50th annual Model United Nations conference at Winthrop University.
Held March 25-27, the conference attracted hundreds of students from 25 high schools across the Carolinas and Georgia. An awards ceremony in Byrnes Auditorium capped two days of deliberations over world events and this year’s theme of “Parting Ways With Neo-Colonialism: Ensuring Global Achievement through Development for All.”
The overall award – the Winthrop Cup – went to the Fort Mill, South Carolina, public school.
The Secretariat Award went to the students who represented the United States from Nation Ford High School, also of Fort Mill. The award is given to the delegation which contributed greatly to the conference, whether it be through inspiring other delegations to do their best or through displaying exceptional preparedness.
The Geoffrey Bruce Award for the group acting most in character of its country went to the People’s Republic of China delegation from Lakeside High School in Evans, Georgia.
The Rookie Award was presented to Cox Mill High School of Concord, North Carolina, which represented Ecuador, Iceland, Somalia and Tanzania.
Winthrop students recognized for their work as college delegates were: Alyssa Quetel, France; Sophia Cardin, Israel; Seth McElveen, Denmark; Sam Crouch, Russian Federation; and Alex Files, People’s Republic of China. The Best Chair Team award went to the Human Rights Council.
Various high school delegations also were recognized for writing outstanding resolutions or for exceptional debate and diplomacy in one of the different committees.
This year’s Secretariat operated under the student leadership of Ollie Whitfield, Secretary General; Taylor Noble, Director General; and Benjamin Byrd, Coordinator General. The program is directed by Jennifer Leigh Disney, professor and chair of the Department of Political Science, Philosophy, Religion & Legal Studies.
For more information, contact Judy Longshaw, news and media services manager, at 803/323-2404 or longshawj@winthrop.edu.
