UIndy Model UN Team Awarded at Annual Security Council Conference

The University of Indianapolis hosted the 46th Annual Model United Nations (UN) Security Council Conference for University Students from November 13th to November 15th, and many UIndy students on the Model UN team earned awards for their work.

Model UN is a simulation conference organized by the Indiana Consortium for International Programs with a focus on the UN’s Security Council, which aims to maintain peace and security internationally.

This year’s conference was held in Schwitzer Student Center and featured four concurrent councils with UIndy students represented on three of them.  Eli Bridges ’28 (History Education) and Amari Wilkerson ’27 (Political Science, International Relations) served as council chairs for Council 3 and Council 4, respectively. Topics discussed included the UN’s role in the Gaza War, Iran and the Nuclear Agreement, the UN’s role as a political stabilizer in Haiti, the humanitarian crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Arria-Formula Meeting on Climate, Peace, & Security. Hon. Mawine G. Diggs, the former Liberian Minister of Commerce and Industry and the founder of Guatta Consulting Group, LLC, was a keynote speaker at the event. 

UIndy’s Model UN class is led by Dr. Jyotika Saksena, professor of international relations. Dr. Saksena believes that Model UN teaches students important skills related to negotiation and diplomacy. 

“This course is an experiential component of the international relations major,” said Dr. Saksena. “Model UN does not just teach students about different countries’ positions on critical global issues, but they also learn negotiating skills, diplomacy, and public speaking.”

Through his role as council chair, Bridges gained a deeper understanding of how countries with differing beliefs can work together.

“At the end of the day, even when people or countries have differing opinions, they each care about helping people and pass resolutions to further the world as a whole,” said Bridges.

Wilkerson also found the role of council chair to be a valuable learning experience.

“As a chair, I got to see delegates have thoughtful discussions and negotiate with one another,” said Wilkerson. “It was really inspiring seeing my classmates get to apply all the work they prepared in class. Being my first time as a chair, I learned that effective communication and encouraging others are the best ways to lead.”

Students in UIndy’s Model UN class were awarded at the conference. These awards are listed below: 

Best Delegate

Council 2:

Anthony Acosta (France) – Second place

Council 3:

Cheyenne Henson (France) – First place

Dania Razaq (Somalia) – Second place

Council 4:

Bruno Bertolini (Greece) – First place

Julionna Apple (Russia) – Second place

Best Diplomat

Council 3

Dania Razaq (Somalia) – First place

Cheyenne Henson (France) – Second place

Council 4

Bruno Bertolini (Greece) – First place

Julionna Apple (Russia) – Second place

Most in Character

Council 3

Jenna Felty (USA) – First place

Council 4

Julionna Apple (Russia) – Second place