For the first time in the College’s history, the Hillsborough Community College (HCC) Model United Nations academic team competed at the National Model United Nations (NMUN) Conference in New York City, NY from April 10-14. Competing against almost 1,500 students, the HCC team won two individual and one team delegation award.
“I cannot express how extremely proud I am of our students and how well they performed at this conference,” HCC faculty and MUN co-advisor, Eric Fiske, said. “This was our first National Model UN conference, yet our small delegation of just four HCC students competed with over 50 other colleges and universities from around the world.”
The four students who represented the College during the conference were head delegate Pedro Tezna Contrearas, Randy Gunther, Otavio Rose and Essimo Mokube. Two position paper awards were earned by Gunther for the United Nations Environment Assembly and Rosa for the General Assembly Third Committee.
HCC’s team competed as the delegation of Suriname, winning the Honorable Mention award. The delegation worked on global issues such as economic development in rural areas, addressing climate-fragile, the illicit supply of weapons to non-state actors and healthy aging/age-friendly sustainability development.
The students were also able to meet with Suriname’s ambassador to the United Nations, Ambassador Subil Algram Sitaldin, and had an hour-long discussion with him during a visit to the United Nations headquarters.
“This was a full circle experience,” said HCC adjunct faculty and MUN co-advisor, Rebecca Sohl. “As an undergrad, I competed in NMUN. When I walked back into the General Assembly as an advisor and with our students in tow, seeing their faces of pure joy and awe made me smile and think this is why I do what I do.”
HCC MUN is open to all students. For more information, visit the HCC website or email Dr. Eric Fiske at [email protected].
Hillsborough Community College serves more than 42,000 students annually at its five campuses located throughout Tampa Bay. For more information, visit hccfl.edu.
HCC is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOS) to award associate and baccalaureate degrees. Degree-granting institutions also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation of Hillsborough Community College may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 3033-4097, by calling 404.679.4500 or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org). Visit
hccfl.edu/accreditation for more information.