Team’s strong performance highlights commitment to global citizenship and collaborative leadership
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The UMass Dartmouth Model United Nations team proudly returned from the National Model United Nations (NMUN) Canada 2025 Conference in Banff, Alberta, having earned an Honorable Mention Delegation Award for their outstanding performance. The conference, held between November 23 and 29, brought together university students from around the globe to engage in rigorous diplomatic simulations addressing critical international issues.
UMass Dartmouth sent a six-person delegation representing South Africa, with students participating across three committees focused on indigenous rights, environmental protection, and cultural preservation.
Throughout the week-long event, delegates attended keynote sessions featuring First Nations activists and elders, provincial leaders, and current United Nations diplomats. Participants also engaged in First Nations cultural activities and spent a full day on an educational sustainability tour highlighting environmental stewardship efforts in the region.
"NMUN is a unique way for students to experience the world and different cultures first-hand as they learn about them," said Jacqueline O'Hare, co-president of Model UN and political science major, who attended the conference. "Our delegates learned about important issues on diplomacy from representatives of the First Nations and drafted resolutions that effectively addressed the rights of indigenous peoples."
"The conference in Canada was an enriching opportunity. My biggest takeaways were the hands-on implications of treaties and UN programs for the advocacy of indigenous peoples. We gained diverse perspectives as we developed international frameworks to address the wide range of issues discussed," said Co-President Christopher Castro.
Committee Assignments and Delegates
United Nations Human Rights Council topic: "UNDRIP and the Participation of Indigenous Populations in Governance"
- Christopher Castro, Political Science
- Ioannis Kotsalidis, Sociology & Anthropology
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) topic: "The Protection of Cultural Heritage through Language Preservation"
- Jacqueline O'Hare, Political Science
- Sumaya Hassan Ibrahim, Finance
United Nations Environment Assembly topic: "Promotion of Safe and Sustainable Use of the World's Oceans"
- Jack Pasek Tow, Biology
- Skylynn Helene Rose Turman, Crime & Justice Studies
A Recognized Achievement
The Honorable Mention Delegation Award reflects the team's commitment to diplomacy, research, collaboration, and leadership during committee sessions. This recognition strongly positions the UMass Dartmouth team as they prepare for their next major conference.
Looking Ahead
UMass Dartmouth Model UN will represent Mozambique at the NMUN New York Conference in Spring 2026. To support the UMass Dartmouth NMUN program, follow them on Instagram at @umassdmun. Students interested in joining Model UN can learn more through the team's MyOrgs page. For additional information on NMUN, visit www.nmun.org.