UCA Model UN was awarded the CLAWS award at the December Board of Trustees meeting.
CLAWS is an acronym for celebrating the lofty achievements of our wonderful students. The winners of this award have to have either been recognized with high-level internships, be an award-winning RSO, students presenting research at statewide, national or international conferences or other noteworthy accomplishments.
UCA Model UN President Jaylan Harris said, “I feel that having the UCA Model UN team get recognized for CLAWS is something that’s been a long time coming.
“Since 1966, this organization has been dedicated to trying to further international, historical, political, and cultural education here in Arkansas through hands-on simulation,” he said. “I’ve met more than a few UCA graduates who have told me how Model UN has changed the course of their careers and helped them realize what they want to do or advocate in their lives. Not only that, but it’s also a recognition of the community service we do here in Arkansas attempting to educate younger teens and introducing them to possibilities they may have never considered before.”
Harris said,“Model UN is just what it sounds like, a model of the real-life United Nations. Basically, we work to simulate the entirety of the UN and how it works ranging from its committees and commissions to the formal debate and diplomatic language, to researching and simulating the views of a member nation of the UN. A lot of it is being able to load up on information about a country to learn its culture and views, then being able to advocate those views around other people in committee to get your own resolutions written and passed.”
UCA Model UN has summer programs as well for middle and high school students. Harris said he enjoyed this experience when he attended.
“The International Affairs Summer program that we hold invites 50 middle and high school students for a week to immerse themselves in things related to international relations, issue advocacy, and government. I remember attending years ago in 2017, getting the chance to meet the Mexican consul to the United States. This past Summer, these 50 students were met with former workers from the UN, diplomatic workers and even groups educating on the situation in Syria — this was before the Assad regime had fallen — so the level of understanding these kids were given was unmatched by all but those who are involved with or study such affairs for the average American.”
Harris said he believes anyone curious and willing to learn about the world should join.
“Anyone who has an interest in the world around them, anyone that likes to do research, anyone that likes to meet people and make new friends, anyone that’s willing to learn about what makes the world work and wants to learn how they could slot in to make it a better place should join. You don’t need to be any major or have any kind of standing. Anyone is welcome to join the UCA Model UN, and it will always be an open place for all.”