International Relations Club at UA Receives Awards at Model U.N. in Mexico City

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — A delegation from the Alabama International Relations Club at The University of Alabama recently received awards at the fifth annual Harvard National Model United Nations- Latin America conference in Mexico City.

A group of 10 UA students traveled to the week-long event, where they debated international politics and discussed solutions to critical global issues with hundreds of students from universities around the world.

The model United Nations is hosted by Harvard University and the Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo. It is recognized as the premier conference in Latin America.

For the second year in a row, the club was named Most Outstanding Small Delegation, besting all other U.S. schools in attendance and many of those from Latin America. Contributing to that distinction were three AIRC members who received individual awards at the conference. Brandon Hooks, AIRC president, was honored as Best Delegate; Alexis Unger received the Outstanding Delegate title; and freshman Davis Wright was given an honorable mention. These awards represent the top distinctions that individuals can earn within a committee.

“The group we took was very diverse, coming from numerous states and representing several different colleges across campus,” Hooks said.  “This was only our second year at the conference, so we were proud to have not only won three individual awards, but a school award for the second year in a row.”

AIRC members also visited the Frida Kahlo Museum and Plaza Mayor, interacted with Latin American students at social events and toured Teotihuacan, where they viewed ancient ruins and climbed to the top of the Pyramid of the Sun.

The AIRC students who attended the conference were:

Davis Wright, Canton, Georgia.

Austin Halverson, O’Fallon, Illinois.

Sarah Forland, Robertsdale

Blair Morrison, Finchville, Kentucky.

Rachel Adkins, Pleasanton, California.

Jackson Knappen, Overland Park, Kansas.

Alexis Unger, Zionsville, Indiana.

Brandon Hooks, Montgomery.

Taylor Carvalho, Birmingham.

Danielle Sartain, Overland Park, Kansas.