DATE: February 10, 2009

CONTACT: Michael Morris, 864-656-3545
morrism@clemson.edu

WRITER: Jessica Lance, 864-656-2061
jrlance@clemson.edu

Clemson Model United Nations team wins award at international conference

CLEMSON — Two Clemson University students received the Outstanding Delegation to the Food and Agriculture Committee award at the fifth annual Stockholm Model United Nations Conference in Sweden.

Adedoyin Salami of Rock Hill and Natasha Korba of Bristol, Conn., received the award. They attended the Stockholm conference with Clemson team members Michelle Gottfried of Goldens Bridge, N.Y.; Chris Godbey of Mauldin; Sarah Layton of Vero Beach, Fla.; Rosalyn Morrison of Charleston; Emnet Sebhatu of Rock Hill; and Lad Williamson of Blythewood. Political science professor Michael Morris was the faculty adviser.

Teams from different universities represent countries in the United Nations at the Stockholm Model United Nations Conference (SMUN). They engage in debates to pass resolutions that promote their respective national as well as global welfare. Clemson’s team represented four different countries in the UN.

“This conference meant a great deal to me as a Clemson student and as an American citizen," said Salami, president of the Model UN team from 2006 to 2008. "Being the only American university that made it through the interview process was a great honor and also provided us with a great challenge. This proved to be an eye-opening and truly inspirational experience as all of the delegates went in with a strong sense of purpose about how we would represent our university and our country.”

“The Clemson University undergraduate Model United Nations team distinguished themselves at the SMUN conference as acknowledged by their best Delegation award. Competition was intense with 40 teams representing universities from around the world. It is very rewarding to me that Clemson undergraduates competed very successfully in world-class competition,” said Morris.

During this conference, more than 150 students from around the world represented 40 countries and engaged in debates in the Security Council, the Food and Agriculture Organization and the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe.