The Best Delegation designation was awarded to UML’s Model UN team representing France, which included, from left, Amy Provencal, Catie Coyne, Danielle Banks, John Fraser, Sean Garballey, Edgar Vasiliu-Rab, Stavros Papadopoulos and Ardeth Thawnghmung, faculty advisor to the team.

For the third time in four years, the UMass Lowell International Relations Club was named Best Delegation for their overall performance in a North American Model United Nations conference. UML was one of 13 teams at this year’s conference, held in Toronto, Ont. in March.

Within days of returning from a second competition in Switzerland, team members demonstrated their versatility by officiating at the High School Model UN held on campus.

“As a faculty advisor,” says Ardeth Thawnghmung, assistant professor of Political Science, “there is nothing more satisfying than seeing my students perform their best in these conferences.  I am also very proud of the overwhelmingly positive comments we received from high school faculty advisors about how that competition was organized.”

This is the third year the campus has sponsored the high school competition. According to Thawnghmung, nine high schools sent 220 student competitors, making this the largest turn-out so far.

Model UN conferences simulate committee work carried out at the United Nations in New York. They give students the opportunity to learn about foreign policy and to build skills. The Model UN program on campus was founded and advised for many years by Political Science Prof. Dean Bergeron, who was one of the speakers at the high school competition opening ceremonies.

In addition to earning the best delegation award at the Toronto competition, 11 students earned individual recognition: Danielle Banks and Amy Provencal, Best Delegate; Chris Wilkinson, Conor Baldwin, John Fraser, Stavros Papadopoulous and James Blatchford, Outstanding Delegate; and Jim McIsaac, Rob Moreau, Sean Garballey and Edgar Vasiliu-rab, Honorable Mention.