2005 FALL

BAYLOR TEAM SHINES AT MODEL ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES

For the ninth year in a row, the Baylor Model Organization of American States Team has taken a team award at the competition sponsored by the World Affairs Council of San Antonio, Texas. This year, Baylor received top honors as the Outstanding Delegation. The competition held at St. Mary’s University lasted from November 3-5, 2005.  Twenty-two universities, including two from Mexico, represented countries in the Organization of American States. Baylor represented two countries: Venezuela and Uruguay and participants researched and debated issues of concern to the hemisphere as varied as decentralization, terrorism, privacy issues, renewable fuels, and telecommunications standardization. Ambassador Ronald Godard, Senior Advisor for Western Hemisphere Affairs U.S. Mission to the United Nations; Raul Rodriguez, ChairmAn of the Board of Trustees and former Director of the North American Development Bank; Enrique Lee, Vice President of Valero Oil Company and Florita Sheppard, Ambassador in Residence at the University of Texas addressed the meeting and emphasized the importance of the OAS and the value of a career in Foreign Service. Baylor University led this year’s model in the number of awards, receiving six out of 14. Baylor senior, Laura Samudio, an International Studies major from Austin, Texas served as President of the Model, and Patrick Cuff, a senior History major from Crawford, Texas chaired the Committee on Juridical and Political Affairs for which he received recognition as Outstanding Chair. Leticia Silva, the Co-Head Delegate for Uruguay, a junior Real Estate and Economics major from Houston, Texas won Outstanding Delegate for her work in the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. Robert Slater, a senior Economics major from Austin, Texas and Head Delegate for Venezuela; Jenny Morrell, a senior Political Science major from Houston, Texas and Ariel Alexander, a freshman International Studies and Spanish major from San Antonio, Texas were recognized as Distinguished Delegates in the Committee on Hemispheric Rights, the Inter-American Telecommunications Commission and Inter-American Council for Integral Development. Other members of the team included: Anthony Samp, a senior International Studies major from San Marcos served as Head Delegate for Uruguay; Denise Alvarez, a senior History major from Lorena, Texas; Xhemile Baca, a junior International Studies major from Houston, Texas; Amanda Crews, a sophomore International Studies major from Temple, Texas; Christie Davis, a freshman undeclared from Waco, Texas; Pedro Delgado, a sophomore Political Science major from San Antonio, Texas; Carolynne Dugger, a sophomore Pre-Forensics/Biology major from San Antonio, Texas; Alyssa Engle, a freshman International Studies major from Park Ridge, Illinois; Alyssa Erratt, a freshman University Scholars major from Bryan, Texas; Cassidy Ford, a freshman University Scholars major from Phoenix, Arizona; Garrett Golding, a senior Political Science major from Coppell, Texas; Jessica Martin, a senior International Studies major from Houston, Texas; Megan McNerney, a freshman International Studies major from Troy, Ohio; Elizabeth Russell, a junior International Studies major from Robinson, Texas; Eva Silkwood, a junior International Studies major from Coldspring, Texas; and Matthew Zárate, a senior Psychology major from San Antonio, Texas. Dr. Joan Supplee, of the History Department coached the team.