Top image: Shams Al Khafaji ‘22, Sydney Sharp ‘24, and Gabrielle Arvizu ‘22
Middle image: Maricela Lopez ‘22 & Michael Mathews ‘22
Bottom image: Eli Levsky ‘25, Megan Foster ‘24 and Grace Murphy ‘22

On February 18-19, the Miami University Model Arab League team competed at the Ohio Valley Regional Model Arab League at Shawnee State University.

Students spent all fall semester researching their countries and practicing parliamentary procedure. The months of work paid off, with the team garnering six outstanding delegate awards and one distinguished delegate award. Over the two days, these students used all their skills to debate politics, form coalitions, and write resolutions.

Overall, the Miami team won Outstanding Delegation for representing Jordan. Individual awards were presented as follows:

• Eli Levsky ‘25 (Political Science and International Studies): Distinguished Delegate on Council on Political Affairs as Somalia
• Megan Foster ‘24 (Political Science and International Studies) and Grace Murphy ‘22 (International Studies ): Outstanding Delegates on the Council on Political Affairs as Jordan
• Michael Mathews ‘22 (Political Science): Outstanding Delegate on Joint Defense Council as Jordan
• Shams Al Khafaji ‘22 (Political Science and International Studies) and Sydney Sharp ‘24 (Political Science and International Studies): Outstanding Delegates on the Special Council on Poverty and Unemployment as Jordan
• Gabrielle Arvizu ‘22 (Political Science and Diplomacy and Global Politics): Outstanding Chair on the Special Council on Poverty and Unemployment

“It was the best experiential learning experience I have had at Miami,” said Mathews.

The students will now prepare for the National University Model Arab League conference in Washington, DC.

The team also captured numerous awards in 2020.

Miami's Model Arab League, open to all students no matter their major or field of interest, is looking to recruit for next year's team. Feel free to email the team advisor, Shawn Vanness (dubbersa@MiamiOH.edu), for more information.