Hostos students returned to the nation’s capital to participate in the
National Model United Nations Collegiate Conference from October 29 to November 1.
There, a dozen members of the Hostos Student Leadership Academy (SLA) represented the Dominican Republic for the second time in the six years. Overall, this was Hostos’ eighth appearance at the conference and the fifth time that Hostos students represented the Dominican Republic.
Each student attended a series of workshops to develop their debating, public speaking, and speech writing skills. Students also wrote “position papers” that covered a variety of topics that were discussed in their committees and presented at the conference.
The students who were selected were trained by former Hostos student and Student Leadership Academy member, Yissely Ortiz. Ortiz graduated from Hostos in 2010, was a two-time model senator and member of the award-winning Hunter College Model United Nations Team. Ortiz also worked as a Special Projects Assistant at the World Vision International at the United Nations.
The Hostos group was the most diverse group at the conference, including students with family ties to Cameroon, Senegal, Guinea, El Salvador, the Dominican Republic, Yemen, Togo, Côte d'Ivoire, and Puerto Rico.
As a result of their efforts, the contingent was awarded an Honorable Mention Award. This is the second time in the history of the Model United Nations Program that Hostos has eared this award.
The students also enjoyed visiting historical sites, including the White House, as well as the Washington, World War II, Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr., and Jefferson monuments.
The twelve members of the Hostos contingent were:
Adrian Quinonez (SOS Team) and
Diamilatou Diallo (Hostos Student Ambassador) in General Assembly First Committee (GA 1)
Saint Mbakop A Boui (SGA President) and
Yunerys Liriano (Hostos Student Ambassador) in General Assembly Second Committee (GA 2)
Pamela Brown (Hostos Student Ambassador) and
Rokia Diabi (Hostos Emerging Leaders Program) in the Commission on the Statius of Women (CSW)
Feisel Traore (Hostos Student Ambassador) and
Raquel Melendez (Hostos Student Ambassador) in the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
Sakhr Aldaylam (Hostos Student Ambassador) and
Fatima Hernandez (Hostos Student Ambassador) in United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
This year’s group also had two head delegates: Angelica Herrera De Leon and Ruth Romero. Romero has served as Head Delegate three times in the past and was a participant four times. She graduated from Hostos in 2014, and she is currently studying at John Jay College for Criminal Justice and working at
CUNY Citizenship Now!
This was the second conference for Adrian Quinonez, Angelica Herrera DeLeon and Yunerys Liriano.
For each of the other members of the delegation, this was their first foray into the competition/simulation. This group included four current members of Hostos Student Government Association and three former members. It was also the first time that three former and/or current SGA Presidents have participated in this activity.
About Hostos Community College
Eugenio María de Hostos Community College is an educational agent for change that has been transforming and improving the quality of life in the South Bronx and neighboring communities since 1968. It serves as a gateway to intellectual growth and socioeconomic mobility, as well as a point of departure for lifelong learning, success in professional careers, and transfer to advanced higher education programs. The College’s unique Student Success Coaching Unit provides students with individualized guidance and exemplifies its emphasis on student support services.
Named one of the top 10 finalists for the 2015 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, Hostos offers 27 associate degree programs and two certificate programs that facilitate easy transfer to The City University of New York’s (CUNY) four-year colleges or baccalaureate studies at other institutions. The College has an award-winning Division of Continuing Education & Workforce Development that offers professional development courses and certificate-bearing workforce training programs. Hostos is part of CUNY, the nation’s leading urban public university, which serves more than 500,000 students at 24 colleges.