Oakland University’s Model United Nations team continued its winning ways at the North American Model United Nations 2026 Conference, bringing home three individual awards, including the Best Delegate Award, the conference’s highest honor.
OU Model UN President Jan Kuehnke received the Best Delegate Award for his representation of the United States on the UN Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural Committee. In recognition of his achievement, Kuehnke was presented with the chair’s gavel.
“Winning the Best Delegate Award was a very big honor to me,” Kuehnke said. “As someone who moved to the U.S. from Germany around 2.5 years ago and is not a native English speaker, this is something that proves to myself that I can make and express valid and thoughtful arguments, even in another language.”
The committee focused on the impacts of “fast fashion,” the rapid production of cheap, low-quality clothing by mass-market retailers. It’s a sensitive topic, Kuehnke noted, especially for the United States, the largest consumer market in the world.
“Being the delegate of the United States on the Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural Committee was something I picked knowingly because I knew that it would be a challenge,” Kuehnke said. “It required a lot of strategic maneuvering to build consensus while also being true to the U.S.’s actual stances.”
Abigail David earned an Outstanding Delegate Award for her representation of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in the International Court of Justice. She worked alongside three other “advocates” to litigate the case of DRC v. Uganda (2005), a highly technical case that is especially challenging due to the extensive reciprocal harms committed by both parties.
“ICJ assignments are usually reserved for the most experienced delegates, and our team requires students to complete International Law (PS 3660) before qualifying for an ICJ position,” said Dr. Cody Eldredge, political science professor and OU Model UN faculty adviser. “Abi’s accomplishment is therefore especially impressive.”
David, a philosophy major who plans to attend law school, said the experience combined her passion for international relations and litigation, reaffirming her desire to become an attorney.
“Most of the delegates of the ICJ also strive to become attorneys, and it was really great to be in a room with other students that have similar aspirations as well,” said David. “We had advocates from other parts of the U.S., Canada, and France. We had lots of conversations about the differences and similarities of our countries’ legal systems.”
Ethan Vela earned a Book Award for his portrayal of Cuban activist Juan Gualberto Gómez on the historic Spanish-American War crisis committee. The Book Award is given to students who demonstrate high-quality research and a thorough understanding of issues. Vela prepared for the conference by researching the life of Juan Gómez Gualberto and studying the history of the Spanish-American War.
“I took a class on slavery and race in Latin America with Professor (Elizabeth) Shesko, and the sources from the syllabus were very useful,” said Vela. “They gave me a solid understanding of how Cuba experienced the 19th century, especially in terms of race, which is very important in portraying an abolitionist nationalist like Gualberto Gómez. My Spanish education helped me utilize primary and secondary sources that other delegates weren’t using, and I learned a lot about him as a person and a political figure.”
Having an in-depth understanding of Gualberto Gómez, Cuban history, and how the island’s social conflicts intersected with the Spanish-American War gave Vela distinct advantages, both in formal debate and behind the scenes. In the course of the simulation, he skillfully maneuvered his way into becoming interim president of Cuba, achieving Gualberto Gómez’s dream of an independent and racially inclusive nation.
“Aside from being an academic outlet, the conference has helped me develop my public speaking abilities, speech writing and group problem-solving,” Vela said. “The crisis environment made me think on my feet, and I enjoyed getting creative with other delegates to deal with urgent issues and pressing deadlines.”
Collectively, Oakland was the third-most decorated team at the conference, outperforming several longstanding competitors, including Cornell University, Cal State Long Beach, and Concordia University (Quebec).
“Our Model UN students continue to bring distinction to Oakland, and they represented us exceptionally well in Toronto,” said Eldredge. “It is a genuine pleasure to coach one of the strongest teams in the state.”
The team is now preparing to host the 9th annual Oakland University High School Model UN Conference (OUMUN), scheduled for April 10-11. Each year, OU welcomes hundreds of high school students to campus for this two-day competition. The conference has been expanded this year, thanks to generous support from the political science department and the international studies program.
“OUMUN remains a valuable opportunity to showcase Oakland to high school students from across the state,” said Eldredge. “This year, we are hosting delegations from as far away as Traverse City. We make a point of giving prospective students the opportunity to experience life at OU, including providing time to explore campus and hosting a meal at Vandenberg Dining Hall.”
For more information on Model United Nations at OU, contact Professor Eldredge at [email protected].