ODU Delegates Take Awards at Model U.N. Conference
A student delegation from Old Dominion University's Model United Nations Society returned recently from the Georgetown National Collegiate Security Conference (NCSC) with two awards.
Timothy Gorde, representing Vice Senior Gen. Maung Aye on the State Peace and Development Council of the Union of Myanmar, 2010, won Best Delegate in the committee, the highest honor a student can receive.
Julian Lawson, representing Sen. William Gwin, D-Calif., on the U.S. Senate 1850, was awarded Outstanding Delegate.
Alan Rogers, assistant director of the Model United Nations Program, remarked on the importance of these awards, not only to the individuals, but also to the university.
"Ivy Leagues traditionally source the fiercest competition in such conferences, and this was no different at Georgetown. Tim and Julian, as well as the rest of the ODU delegation, proved their worthiness. They put in hours of work preparing for and performing at conference," Rogers said.
The National Collegiate Security Conference, known for its interactive, crisis-based committees and engaging social events, is a Model United Nations Conference held annually by the Georgetown International Relations Association Inc. in Washington, D.C., over Columbus Day weekend. This year's conference was held Oct. 8-11 at the Georgetown University Hotel and Conference Center.
ODU also plans to send a small delegation of three students to the Yale Security Council Simulation on Oct. 29.
ODU's Model United Nations Society was established in 1977 to promote further understanding of the United Nations, international issues and the global community. Today the society has a membership of about 50 ODU students, with majors ranging from political science and international studies to chemistry and military science.
The society sponsors the annual U.N. Day conference for ODU students and study trips to New York, as well as the annual ODU Model U.N Conference (ODUMUNC) for high schools. It represents the university in at least five college conferences annually, including collegiate model U.N, crisis simulation and model NATO meetings.