McMurry University Students Selected for Special Honor at Model UN Meeting in New York City

McMurry University Model UN students Nathaniel Archer of Austin, Texas, and Ashley Schelde of Granite Shoals, Texas, received a special honor at the National Model UN Conference in New York City in March.

The two were invited by the U.S. Mission to attend the World Water Day Panel studying trans-boundary water issues and the International Hydrological Program. The McMurry students were the only two given this opportunity from among 3,500 student representatives from across the world.

“I felt very fortunate to have been given an opportunity to sit in on an actual water panel board meeting,” said Schelde.” I would like to get my masters in Environmental Policy, so this was right up my alley. This best part about the panel was hearing countries like Israel and Tanzania ask the panel for ways to improve their situation. It was interesting to watch the UN working out problems first hand.”

Archer noted the “great difference in U.S./Canada and U.S./Mexico as compared to other border countries and how environmental and economic policies of a country can directly affect their neighboring countries.”

Both students said they definitely enjoyed the Model UN trip to New York.

“At first I was scared about representing a developing country in the committee for the Economic Commission in Latin America, but I soon realized that Dr. Bertrand prepared us well and there was nothing to fear,” said Schelde. “It was amazing to work with other students from all over the world on real life issues that the United Nations deals with everyday.”

Archer echoed her sentiments, saying “I was surprised that we were chosen for such a great opportunity. I learned a lot from observing the panel and from the trip.”

McMurry Model UN sponsor Dr. Tina Bertrand took 15 McMurry students to the annual international conference.

Model UN is a simulation in which participants are assigned country positions in certain UN and International Organizations, such as the World Health Organization and the Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Committee. Over a series of sessions they debate certain topics decided beforehand from the position of their assigned country. It is an amazing experience to hone one’s negotiation skills as well as get a chance to broaden one’s perspective on a variety of international topics. The sessions are moderated by a director and are run under rules of parliamentary procedure. Model UN has become increasingly popular over the past decade, with conferences being held around the world.