A group of 18 University of Illinois Springfield students won an Outstanding Delegation Award at the annual National Model United Nations simulation held April 10-14, 2023, in New York.

UIS was one of only 24 colleges and universities from around the world honored with the award. Students were evaluated on their ability to remain in character, their participation in committee and their proper use of procedure. They were also evaluated on their diplomatic skills in representing the country they are assigned, in this case, Chile.

This is the fourth time the UIS team has won an Outstanding Delegation Award in its 30 years of involvement with the Model United Nations simulation.

UIS graduate students Austin Green and Joel Lemmert also won a Position Paper Award for their work on the Economic and Social Committee. UIS student Will Newton was given the opportunity to chair the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) committee.

During the UN simulation, resolutions are created and discussed, debated and voted upon by all countries represented in the council and committees. The simulations are as close to reality as possible. Each delegation attempts to take on the character, as well as the policy, of its assigned country.

This year, UIS students got an opportunity to hear from Csaba Korosi, president of the UN general assembly, with the closing ceremony taking place in the UN General Assembly Hall.

Student involvement in Model United Nations begins in the fall each year, as the UIS delegation begins to form and members gather information about the country they will represent.

For more information on Model United Nations, visit the club's website.