Eleven college students in business attire stand in front of large windows at a conference center, a view of an urban city center behind them, holding certificates and signs displaying the names of countries Oman and Ethopia.

Denison students won eight awards — more than any other school — at the 2025 American Model United Nations (AMUN) Conference in Chicago, where they represented Ethiopia and Oman.

The honors included the top conference prize, “Best Overall Delegation,” for both countries.

“These students built on our success at last year’s conference to establish us as a serious program,” said Andrew McWard, the assistant professor of politics and public affairs who led the group. “Now it’s time to find more opportunities for us to show that strength again.”

Nineteen Denison students took part in the November competition, in which 66 schools represented 109 countries.

A group of nearly 20 college students in business attire pose for a group photo in the lobby of a conference center that features cream-colored carpet with a dark blue geometric herringbone design, and wood-paneled walls with framed art in the background.

The following students won awards for their specific committees:

  • Fiona Coleman ’26 and Nicole Cohen-Sabban ’26 for Exceptional Representation of Oman, General Assembly Plenary
  • Anna Batista ’26 and Eric Ott ’28 for Exceptional Representation of Oman, General Assembly First Committee
  • Brennan Kelley ’26 and Karishma Luthra ’26 for Exceptional Representation of Ethiopia, General Assembly Second Committee
  • Aditi Agarwal ’26 and Norah Carter ’26 for Exceptional Representation of Ethiopia, General Assembly Third Committee
  • Mary Hodgkins ’27 and Katie Nader ’27 for Exceptional Representation of Oman, General Assembly Third Committee
  • Sadie Frank ’27 and Lila Smith ’27 for Exceptional Representation of Oman, Historical Security Council of 1994

Students attended the conference as part of McWard’s course, “The United Nations and World Problems.” Two students, Sadie Frank ‘27 and Karishma Luthra ‘26, returned after taking the course last fall.

“If I’m the coach, Sadie and Karishma are the team captains,” McWard said. “Their experience and leadership established the model for how I’d like to run the team moving forward. I was so happy to see them return.”

Denison students participated in the following simulations and assignments:

General Assembly Plenary

  • Roger Gaillard ’27 and Riley Rees ’27 (Ethiopia)
  • Fiona Coleman ’26 and Nicole Cohen-Sabban ’26 (Oman)

General Assembly First Committee: Disarmament & International Security

  • Colin Luse ’26 and Connor Stout ’26 (Ethiopia)
  • Anna Batista ’26 and Eric Ott ’28 (Oman)

General Assembly Second Committee: Economic & Financial Affairs

  • Brennan Kelley ’26 and Karishma Luthra ’26 (Ethiopia)
  • Raymon Headen ’26 and Jack Ortmann ’26 (Oman)

General Assembly Third Committee: Social, Cultural, and Humanitarian Affairs

  • Aditi Agarwal ’26 and Norah Carter ’26 (Ethiopia)
  • Mary Hodgkins ’27 and Katie Nader ’27 (Oman)

Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA)

  • Kieran Athy ’27 (Oman)

Historical Security Council of 1994

  • Sadie Frank ’27 and Lila Smith ’27 (Oman)
December 8, 2025