It's two for two for students from UWI St Augustine. Delegates from the campus' Institute of International Relations (IIR) have once again won commendations at the extremely competitive and highly regarded 2020 Harvard National Model United Nations (HNMUN). IIR delegates had also won commendations in the 2019 HNMUN, standing out among delegates from some 60 countries, among them the highest ranked universities in the world.
"It is staggering," said Joneille Johnson, an IIR graduate student, and one of the three delegates to receive commendation.
Joneille said the experience at the HNMUN, held from February 13 to 16 at the historic Park Plaza Hotel in Boston, made her "incredibly proud."
She received Diplomatic Commendation for representing the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic in the African Union. Her fellow delegates, Dr Ryan Abraham and Terriann Baker, received Diplomatic Commendation for representing India in the World Health Organisation as a double delegate.
"I feel so many emotions even now as I reflect," says Terriann. "This is my second time winning an award in a co-delegation and the first ever two-time awardee. I am over the moon. I hope that I can transfer my knowledge and become one of the trainers in the future."
Terriann was one of four IIR students who took part in the 2019 HNMUN, and with her partner at that time, Tonicia Williams, won "Outstanding Delegates". Competing against students from Harvard, Yale, Oxford and winning even once would be an amazing accomplishment. Terriann and UWI St Augustine's IIR have now done so twice.
A model UN gives students the opportunity to "role play" the life of a diplomat engaged in arguing for a resolution at the world's highest international body. The goal is to be part of the crafting of the winning resolution, which requires great research, public speaking, and the ability to form alliances with other delegates. HNMUN, which completed its 66th session in 2020, is recognised as the longest running and one of the largest college-level model UNs in the world.
"It was intense from the very beginning," says Terriann. "Students from all over the world came with guns blazing with the goal of awards on their minds."
Despite the pace and competitiveness, the students enjoyed themselves.
"Intense... but if asked ‘would I do it all over again?' the answer would be a resounding YES," said Ryan.
Ryan, Terriann's co-delegate, said the experience made him feel "emboldened". With degrees in Medical Sciences, Medicine and Surgery, he says that, "seeing that my goal is to represent Trinidad and Tobago at the WHO, this experience serving on HNMUN's WHO committee and networking with all these future leaders, as well as winning an award, confirms I'm on the right track in making this career my own."
Like Ryan, Joneille stressed both the professional but personal development that the HNMUN has brought them.
"If I'm being perfectly honest, HNMUN seemed like a great opportunity for me to push past my comfort zone and witness how International Relations are put to work. The chance to travel, represent The UWI and compete amongst some of the most passionate and driven IR students across the globe was both terrifying and exhilarating. Plus, I've always been a sucker for a challenge and competition."
When asked why the IIR team performed so well, Faculty Advisor Dr Georgina Chami points to training and experience:
"First, the intense training and preparations organised and executed for delegates; second, the training team involved in the preparations are former delegates: Brandon Rampersad (former head delegate, Mona Campus), Nestor Garcia [who won Diplomatic Commendation in 2019], Usha Lakhan and Andel Andrew (St Augustine Campus). This allowed the team to gain first-hand insights and knowledge of the competition."
Dr Chami also pointed to the three delegates themselves, "the students must be commended for their determination, dedication, and drive to succeed and excel at HNMUN."
