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Miami's Model Arab League student team captures numerous regional awards

Miami's Model Arab League

On February 20-22, Miami University's Model Arab League student team met great success at the Ohio Valley Regional Model Arab League, hosted at Shawnee State University in Portsmouth, Ohio.

Nearly all students won an outstanding or distinguished award for their representation as delegates of Sudan or Qatar:

  • Alexandra Berding ('20, political science): Outstanding Delegation as Head Delegate for Miami
  • Hannah Specogna ('20, diplomacy and global politics): Outstanding Chair Award for chairing the Council on Political Affairs
  • Grace Murphy ('22, international studies) and Carolyn Moorman ('21, international studies and political science): Outstanding Delegation award for the Council on Political Affairs
  • Gabrielle Arvizu ('22, diplomacy and global politics) and Shams Alkhafaji ('22, political science): Distinguished Delegation in Council of Arab Social Affairs Ministers
  • Eliza Mills ('20, business economics) and Sydne Blackburn ('20, international studies): Distinguished Delegation Joint Defense Council
  • Mackenzie Holtz ('21, international studies and comparative religion) and Sydney Chuen ('20, international studies, French, and global & intercultural studies co-major): Outstanding Delegation Joint Defense Council
  • Grant Holmes ('21, public administration) and Meghan Brandabur ('20, diplomacy and global politics, Russian, Eastern European, and Eurasian studies, and strategic communication; BA/MA program for political science): Outstanding Delegation Council on Palestinian Affairs
  • Mohammed Shaheen ('21, political science and history) and Maricela Lopez ('22, public health and history): Distinguished Delegation in Council of Arab Economic Affairs Ministers

Model Arab League is a student debate competition run by the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations. The student league at Miami was established in 1983 to develop leadership skills such as public speaking, parliamentary procedure, and diplomacy.

The Miami students competed against John Carroll University, Campbellsville University, Ashland University, Wilmington College, and Shawnee State University. In March, the team heads to Washington DC to compete at the National Conference and will be accompanied by assistant professor of global and intercultural studies Kate Dannies.

Miami's Model Arab League, open to all students no matter their major or field of interest, is looking to recruit for next year's team. Feel free to email the team advisor, Shawn Vanness (dubbersa@MiamiOH.edu), for more information.