The Franklin College Model United Nations Team, comprised of 11 students, received the Outstanding Delegation award, the highest award conferred, at the world’s largest simulation of the United Nations. The students competed head-to-head against thousands of students from a wide variety of countries during the April 2023 National Model United Nations Conference in New York City (NMUN-NY).  

In comparison to institutions much larger than Franklin College, this Outstanding Delegation award ranks Franklin among the top in the world. In head-to-head competitions, Franklin beat out schools like Loyola University, Wright State University, Bowling Green State University and Pepperdine, and tied with University of Missouri and Baylor University.

The college’s Model UN Team represented the delegation from Albania, a country in southeastern Europe that borders Greece, the North Macedonia, Montenegro and the Mediterranean Sea.

The conference also acknowledged the work of specific individuals on Franklin’s team who worked in pairs. Cara Mullen and Jack Goodhue were awarded Outstanding Position Paper by the conference for presentation of the position of Albania, upon the topics facing the General Assembly First Committee (Disarmament and International Security). The award indicates the paper submitted by these students was among the best in the world.

In addition, Andrea Rahman and Wynn Wellington were awarded the Outstanding Position Paper upon the topics facing the General Assembly Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural). The award indicates the paper submitted by these students was among the best in the world.

Also, Shea Reynolds and Kendall Potts were awarded Outstanding Position Paper by the conference for presentation of the position Albania’s position on the topics confronted by the International Atomic Energy Agency. The award indicates the paper submitted by these students was among the best in the world.

The National Model United Nations Conference is the oldest and largest international conference of its kind and was the first recognized by the United Nations as a formal non-governmental organization. The Franklin team competed with thousands of students from around the globe.

“This year’s Model UN Team really upped their game,” said Randall Smith, Ph.D., professor of political science and Model UN team adviser. “With nearly half of our team returning to this Conference for a second year, we enjoyed the benefit of close partnerships between our rookie and veteran delegates. This allowed us to push the envelope and focus not just on policy solutions to global problems, but to really strategize about how to best navigate an assembly. I am extremely proud of this team’s accomplishments.”

The team consisted of the following Franklin College students:

Cara Mullen, who served as Co-Head Delegate, of Carthage.

Paige Hedger, who served as Co-Head Delegate, of Cold Spring, Ky.

Schyler Altherr of Pendleton. 

Noah Childers of Edinburgh.

Amy Garrido Portillo of Greenwood.

Jack Goodhue of Jasper.

Kendall Potts of Haubstadt.

Andrea Rahman of Martinsville.

Shea Reynolds of Austin.

Elijah Roberson of Martinsville.

Wynn Wellington of Goshen.

In addition to adviser Randy Smith, the team was also supported in this endeavor by Andrew Rosner, Franklin College director of digital fluency, who traveled with the team.

For more information, contact the Franklin College Office of Communications at (317) 738-8185.

By Lola Reed ’24, Pulliam Fellow

POSTED May 11, 2023