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Phoenix, Arizona 85013
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Model U.N. Club Receives Overall Best Delegation at American Model United Nations International Conference in Chicago

Story by: Christy Skeen
Photos by: Patricka Fletcher

Six students recently represented the Phoenix College Model United Nations Club at the American Model United Nations International Conference in Chicago. The conference included delegations representing 130 two-and-four-year colleges and universities throughout the United States, as well as countries like Ghana, Greece, Cameroon, Nigeria and Canada.

Although a number of colleges and universities were represented, Phoenix College was the shining star as it captured the Overall Best Delegation award. Students achieving this impressive victory included Nora BenHaddad, Carlos Espinosa, Alan Heckman, Patricka Fletcher, Tyler Sharp and Toramana Yaftali.

In addition to this honor, Toramana Yaftali and Nora BenHaddad brought home the Outstanding Delegation Award.

"The experience has been amazing," said Heckman. "I considered myself to have a fairly broad world view, but Model U.N. has expanded it enormously. The Overall Best Delegation award recognizes how hard we worked, how capable we are and how excellent a team from Phoenix College can be."

"It was an honor to hear Phoenix College being called the Overall Best Delegation at a conference as big as AMUN," added Toramana Yaftali. "We stood out and put Phoenix College on the map!"

The conference addressed topics such as the protection of the rights of children affected by armed conflict, international drug control and measures to eliminate international terrorism.
"It’s easy to see why it is difficult to accomplish things in the real world," said Tyler Sharp. "With 191 countries working collectively for a common purpose, or collectively against each other, you can see how responding to global issues can take a lot of time."

"Some of the colleges and universities present at the conference of 2,000 attendees included Northwestern University, Loyola University, Creighton University, University of Nebraska, University of Southern Indiana, Texas A&M, University of Illinois, University of Cincinnati, George Mason University, NAU, ASU, University of AZ, California State University – Sacramento, Northern Michigan University, Iowa State University, University of Wisconsin – Madison, University of Maryland – Baltimore, and McGill University," said Phoenix College President, Dr. Corina Gardea. "This underscores the impressive accomplishment of our students under the guidance of Dr. Albert Celoza."

"The students were extremely dedicated," said Phoenix College U.N. advisor, Dr. Celoza. "They met two months prior to the conference, at least once a week. As the conference drew near they began meeting 1-hour before my class. It all paid off when the students were honored at the conference."

Patricka Fletcher sums up her experience nicely.

"I have gained so much knowledge about how our world is currently working," she said. "I have also gained an experience that I will never forget. The shaping of my political soul has begun to take shape."

For more information about the Phoenix College Model United Nations Club, please call (602) 285-7185.