Students travel to China for National Model United Nations

Francis Grice, assistant professor in the Political Science and International Studies department, traveled to Xi’an, China, Nov. 18–24 with 13 McDaniel students for the 2018 National Model United Nations China conference.

The students represented either Belarus, Chad or Togo at the conference with the Belarus team receiving an honorable mention delegation award. Junior Mischka Johnson of Westminster, Md., served as head delegate.

“The National Model United Nations China conference proved a once-in-a-lifetime trip for our students as they were able to be immersed into a multicultural and multinational experience with participants from institutions all over the world,” said Grice.

"Many of the McDaniel students had previously attended a Model United Nations conference in New York or Washington, D.C., and/or had a strong interest in Asian-Pacific politics. My hope is to be able to offer further national and international conference experiences for our students over the coming years."

The mission of the National Model United Nations is to advance the understanding of the United Nations and contemporary international issues through quality educational programs that emphasize collaboration and cooperative conflict resolution and prepare participants for active global citizenship.

The National Model United Nations China conference was held through a long-distance partnership between the National Model United Nations and Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, China.

In addition to Johnson, other students who participated are Ethan Cortes of Sykesville, Md., (Belarus), Yelli Coulibaly of Silver Spring, Md., (Togo), Carly Critchfield of Grass Lake, Mich., (Togo), Mario Fernandez De Lima of Knoxville, Tenn., (Chad), Madelaine Lee of Westminster, S.C., (Belarus), J.E.B. Stuart Myers of Littlestown, Pa. (Togo), Drake Pew of York, Pa., (Chad), Ravi Patel Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., (Togo), Christopher Shatzer of Taneytown Md., (Chad), Navagaye Simpson of Bowie, Md., (Belarus), Paige West of Reading, Pa., (Belarus), and Jack Ujvary of Galloway, N.J., (Chad).