HCC Participates In National Model UN Conference For 1st Time

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FL — For the first time in the college’s history, the Hillsborough Community College Model United Nations academic team competed at the National Model United Nations Conference, winning two individual and one team delegation award.

The competition in New York City, New York, April 10-14, included nearly 1,500 students from across the country.

“I cannot express how extremely proud I am of our students and how well they performed at this conference,” HCC faculty and MUN co-adviser, 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 issues, the illicit supply of weapons to non-state actors and healthy aging 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-adviser, Rebecca Sohl. “As an undergrad, I competed in NMUN. When I walked back into the General Assembly as an adviser 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 efiske@hccfl.edu.