Patrick McKeage of Binghamton Wins Honors at National Model UN

2014 Apr 28

Patrick McKeage of Binghamton, NY, was among 15 SUNY Oneonta students who spent part of their spring break at the National Model United Nations Conference in New York City from March 30-April 3. This year's delegation, representing Cote d'Ivoire, was one of 28 groups from around the world selected to receive the Distinguished Delegation award at the end of the five-day conference. This is a high honor, placing the Oneonta delegation in the top 10 percent of participants.

McKeage is a senior majoring in Political Science at SUNY Oneonta.

Over the course of the spring semester, students prepared for the simulation by learning about Cote d'Ivoire's international and domestic politics, contemporary issues, and the United Nations' committee system and operating procedures. Once at the conference, they debated proposals put forth to address these issues from the perspective of diplomats of their assigned country.

SUNY Oneonta's Model UN delegation is advised by Dr. Brett Heindl of the Department of Political Science. Funding for the program was provided by the Office of Continuing Education, the Department of Political Science and the students themselves. Some of the students also received travel funding from the Caroline and David D'Antonio Undergraduate Student Travel for Excellence Fund.