Six Brigham Young University students received awards at the Eighth Annual Model European Union (MEU) conference held at the University of Washington’s European Union Center of Excellence February 10-11, 2012.
More than 60 undergraduate students from 10 universities in the United States and Canada participated to understand the workings of the EU.
Brandall Nelson, a political science and Portuguese major, received the Outstanding Minister of Agriculture award for Italy. “Participating in the Model EU competition was a priceless experience for me,” Nelson reported. “I gained a greater understanding of the process of policy formation in the EU, and I learned how to effectively negotiate, participate in consensus building, and I made many new friends!”
Kyle Nelson, a sociology major, received the Outstanding Minister of Agriculture award for Slovakia. Honorable mentions were awarded to both of the other two BYU students participating in the agricultural reform competition. Carolyn Haynie, a public relations major, and Ethan Busby, a political science major, were recognized for representing Bulgaria and Austria respectively.
BYU received two additional honorable mentions for the competition among Heads of Government: Romy Franks, a European studies and German major representing Austria, and Dallin Shaner, a pre-management major representing Bulgaria.
The eight-student delegation from BYU, sponsored by the Center for the Study of Europe (CSE) and the David M. Kennedy Center for International Studies, was directed by Wade Jacoby, faculty director of CSE and professor of political science, and Lora Anderson Cook, administrative director of CSE and co-adviser to the MEU team.
“I think this year's success is testament to our students’ willingness to work together through long weeks of preparation on very technical subjects. As each improved, they improved one another,” said Jacoby.
BYU students who are interested in participating in the 2013 MEU should e-mail CSE@byu.edu.
Writer: Lora Anderson Cook
