Irvine Valley College’s (IVC) award-winning Model United Nations (MUN) team achieved national recognition at the National Model United Nations Conference in Washington, D.C., held November 5–9. Competing among top universities and colleges from around the world, IVC students earned an impressive collection of honors — including two Outstanding Delegation Awards, two Position Paper Awards, and the rare distinction of chairing three committees. Outstanding Delegation Awards are presented to only about five percent of schools at the conference, recognizing the stellar performance of the entire team. Position Paper Awards honor exceptional analysis, relevance, and writing.
In addition, IVC’s students were selected to chair three committees — an honor typically reserved for seasoned university participants. IVC was one of only two community colleges to earn two top awards, and uniquely, had three alumni serving as assistant directors on conference committees.
Representing Morocco and Guyana, IVC’s 16-member team tackled pressing global issues such as the trade in opiates, radioactive waste management, the crisis in Haiti, and sustainable tourism. While in Washington, the team also met with Congressman Dave Min; Taylor Fairless, National Security Advisor to Congressman Jimmy Panetta; Becca Schultz, Legislative Correspondent for Congressman Panetta; Captain Mark Grill, U.S. Marine Corps Fellow in Congressman Panetta’s office; and Keishanna Sullivan, Foreign Service Officer at the Embassy of Guyana. These discussions offered valuable insight into careers on Capitol Hill, diplomacy, and foreign service, as well as current geopolitical issues impacting America’s national security. To learn more about participating in Model United Nations interested students can contact Professor Shirin Sahani.