ALMA — The Alma College chapters of the Business Professionals of America and Model United Nations both followed up on impressive showings at regional championships with excellent results at their respective national competitions.
The Model UN team competed at the 2024 National Model UN Conference in April in New York City and received three “outstanding delegation” awards for its representations of Bangladesh, Zimbabwe and Senegal, along with numerous individual accolades. The BPA team took part in the 2024 National Leadership Conference in May in Chicago, Ill., and won one first-place award, along with eight top-10 finishes.
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The national conference is considered the world’s largest and most prestigious collegiate Model UN competition, with more than 5,500 students representing 250 colleges and universities from 151 countries on five continents.
“This was one of Alma’s strongest-ever teams, led by an extraordinary group of seniors,” said Arthur L Russell Professor of Political Science Derick “Sandy” Hulme, the advisor to Model UN. “We also had the largest contingent of international students in the history of the program, with 23 international students from 10 countries. Combined with our 23 American students, we now have the world’s most internationally diverse Model UN team, and one of the largest overall.”
A full list of Model UN winners is below.
The BPA team followed up on its success in the regional competition, in which they won seven first-place nods, with a strong showing at nationals.
Victoria Posey, of Elwell, Mich., won a first-place award in the Legal Office Procedures category, a second-place nod in Parliamentary Procedure Concepts, a sixth-place win in Business Law and Ethics and a seventh-place award for Small Business Management Team.
Widad Hajji, of Casablanca, Morocco, won a sixth-place award for Basic Office Systems, a seventh-place win in Small Business Management Team and a 10th-place nod in Personal Financial Management. Akwasi Asare, of Kumasi, Ghana, won a fourth-place award for Ethics and Professionalism and a fifth-place award in Fundamental Spreadsheet Analysis.
“I was impressed with these students, who are all first-year students. They have lots of room to improve and lots of time to do it,” said Andy Singer, professor of business and advisor to BPA “Most importantly, they enjoyed being there and competing. I hope that other students on campus see this and sign up to participate.”
OUTSTANDING DELEGATIONS:
Bangladesh delegation:
- Chloe Anderson
- Hiba Belhaj
- Bryce Birchmeier
- Jackson Eelbode
- Sebin Im
- Mohamed Ben Trad
- Abby Haag
- Lucas Hartwell
- Iasmina Idris
- Hunter Jaffray
- Nishant Khairnar
- Emily Kraenzlein
- Yassine Kraiem
- Filippos Mourikis
- Taylor Neeb
- Aishat Ostanbekova
- Chloe Pace
- Victoria Posey
- Robert Preni
- Karol Pucek
- Vadim Ryzhikov
- Aditya Shankar
- Abby Thomas
- Elizabeth Vredevelt
- Perci Wolday
- Jack Yodzevicis
Senegal delegation:
- Mariem Hamdi
- Jacob Keeley
- Salma Laraichi
- August Sack
- Sandra Voskoboynikova
- Maria Vostrizansky
- Zimbabwe delegation:
- Oussama Abouyahia
- Marwa Assiad
- Khalil Allah Chalouati
- Elsa Dupon
- Mallory Fenskie
- Wassim Guerfali
- Helena Kucera
- Ichrak Labidi
- Toby Layson
- Isabelle Monroe
- Emily Patzkowsky
- Gabe Roof
- Nayonikaa Singhaal
- Lexie Thayer
OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUAL RECOGNITION:
- Bryce Birchmeier
- Mallory Fenskie
- Iasmina Idris
- Jacob Keeley
- Isabelle Monroe
- Emily Patzkowsky
- August Sack
- Nayonikaa Singhaal
- Abby Thomas
- Jack Yodzevicis
OUTSTANDING WRITTEN SUBMISSION:
- Oussama Abouyahia
- Khalil Allah Chalouati
- Hiba Belhaj
- Mohamed Ben Trad
- Bryce Birchmeier
- Elsa Dupon
- Wassim Guerfali
- Abby Haag
- Mariem Hamdi
- Lucas Hartwell
- Sebin Im
- Hunter Jaffray
- Nishant Khairnar
- Emily Kraenzlein
- Yassine Kraiem
- Salma Laraichi
- Toby Layson
- Gabe Roof
- Filippos Mourikis
- Taylor Neeb
- Aishat Ostanbekova
- Robert Preni
- Aditya Shankar
- Abby Thomas
- Sandra Voskoboynikova
- Maria Vostrizansky