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Intellect

BYU students shine at MEU conference at University of Washington

Four Brigham Young University students received delegate awards at the Sixth Annual Model European Union conference held at the University of Washington’s Center for Western European Studies.

The conference provided a setting for more than 40 undergraduate students to understand the workings of the EU.

Brooke Ellis, an economics major, received Outstanding Head of Government for the Czech Republic, and Paul Russell, international relations major, received Outstanding Minister of Agriculture for Finland.

Honorable mentions were awarded to both Arielle Badger, international relations major, as Head of Government for Germany, and Alex Struck, a political science major, as Minister of Agriculture for Germany.

The six-student delegation was sponsored by the David M. Kennedy Center for International Studies and BYU’s Center for the Study of Europe and were directed by Wade Jacoby, who, in partnership with the University of Washington and Scripps College, created the West Coast Model EU six years ago.

“Our BYU students have presented undergraduate research papers on European topics, interned with the European Governance and Brussels Seminar programs and represent strong academic and professional interests in Europe,” said Cory Leonard, assistant director at the Kennedy Center and co-adviser for the MEU team. Students also had the opportunity to hear from Spanish politician Josep Borrell.

The team prepared during winter semester under the direction of Leonard and Nicholas Wheeler, a visiting assistant professor in the Department of Political Science, who provided topical briefings and detailed insights on country policies and EU processes.

BYU students who are interested in participating in the next MEU should e-mail CSE@byu.edu.

Writer: Lee Simons

MEU10_team.jpg
Photo by Kenny Crookston/BYU Photo

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