SHERMAN, TEXAS -- As college students look toward the coming Thanksgiving break, most anticipate a family gathering and opportunity for some “down time” before the stress of final exams. For 43 Austin College students, the approach of the holiday means departure is nearing for a trip for which they’ve prepared for months. The students and Phillip Barker, assistant professor of political science, will travel to Chicago, Illinois, to take part in the American Model United Nations conference November 21-24.

The National Model United Nations conference is a simulation of the actual working of the UN. Delegates must learn all positions of the country they represent, and then represent those positions during caucus and committee sessions, examining real issues of the UN.  In Chicago, the Austin College students will represent Estonia, Guinea-Bissau, and Portugal. Seniors Jessica Bufford and John Mark Purcell are the Austin College head delegates, who are not assigned to committees, but assist all the delegates in preparation of materials and rules of order for the conference. 

Austin College has a long history of outstanding participation in Model UN competitions, making a first appearance in 1963. Beginning in 1983, the college annually attended Model UN competitions and has won top honors every year since 1984. In 1990, Austin College students added a fall Model UN conference to their experiences. Students attend the National Model United Nations conference each spring in New York City and have attended sessions in Atlanta, Washington, D.C., Hawaii, and China. 

The Chicago conference will include some 1,400 participants from around the world.

Austin College students participating in the Chicago trip are listed below by hometown, along with the local high school from which they graduated, their parents’ names, and their Model UN delegation assignments.  

Allen, Texas

Bryan D. Botello, Allen High School, son of Jesse and Cynthia Alvarez of Allen, Texas, and David Botello of Plano, Texas, Guinea-Bissau; 

Austin, Texas

Lukas Ezra Koube, Liberal Arts and Science Academy High School, son of Luze and Duran Koube, Estonia,

Clay Norton, Anderson High School, son of Doug and Dawn Norton, Guinea-Bissau;

Colleyville, Texas

Blair Lenhan, Carroll Senior High School, daughter of Helen and Aaron Sallee, Portugal,

Adnan Merchant, Grapevine Senior High School, son of Shams and Anar Merchant, Internatonial Court Justice for Portugal;

Coppell, Texas

Rebeca Ji Hae Kim, Coppell High School, daughter of Jang Kim and Ae Kwon, currently in Brazil, Estonia,

Daniel Ashworth, North Hills Preparatory School, son of Jay and Lisa Ashwaorth, Portugal;

Dallas, Texas

Sneha Patel, School for the Talented and Gifted, daughter of Ashok and Ranjan Patel, Estonia,

Sindi Laura Sanchez, Talented and Gifted Magnet High School, daughter of Mana S. and Jose C. Sanchez, Guinea-Bissau;

El Paso, Texas

Arturo Alluin, El Paso Country Day School, son of Ruth Ojeda and Arturo Alluin, Portugal;

Galena, Illinois

Michael Carlson, Galena High School, son of John and Jean Carlson, Portugal;

Garland, Texas

Joey Heimsath, Garland High School, son of Jerry and Maureen Heimsath, Guinea-Bissau;

Gilmer, Texas

Ali Fritsche, Gilmer High School, daughter of Kristi and John-Eric Henry of Gilmer, and Kyle and Brandi Fritsche of Longview, Texas, Guinea-Bissau,

Chianti Walker, Seagoville High School, daughter of Allen A.K. Walker, Jr. of Gilmer, Texas, and Tameggie Jones of Seagoville, Texas, Estonia;

Granbury, Texas

Anne Deming, Granbury High School, daughter of Rodney and Anita Deming, Guinea-Bissau;

Grapevine, Texas

Claire Balani, Grapevine Senior High School, daughter of Caroline Balani and Ted Gatmaitan, Guinea-Bissau; 

Gunter, Texas

Christiana Horn, Horn Christian Academy, daughter of Don and Virginia Horn, Estonia;

Houston, Texas

Nikita Kaushish, The American School of Doha, daughter of Deepesh and Nandini Kaushish, Estonia;

Irving, Texas

Caleb D. Cavazos, MacArthur High School, son of Cesar and Beth Cavazos, Estonia;

Keller, Texas

Sarika Patel, Keller High School, daughter of Naresh and Nayana Patel, Guinea-Bissau;

Longview, Texas

Ali Fritsche, Gilmer High School, daughter of Kyle and Brandi Fritsche of Longview, and Kristi and John-Eric Henry of Gilmer, Texas, Guinea-Bissau;

McKinney, Texas

Christopher Ellis, McKinney High School, son of George and Ana Maria Ellis, Portugal,

Ashton Gelat, McKinney Boyd High School, daughter of Anthony and Jennifer Gelat, Portugal;

Mesquite, Texas

Matt LeBlanc, North Mesquite High School, son of Chris and Donna Le Blanc, Portugal;

Midlothian, Texas

Andrew Burke, Midlothian High School, son of David and Cathy Burke, Estonia;

Plano, Texas

Sai Balasubramanian, Plano West Senior High School, son of Bhuvana and Balasubramanian, Estonia,

Bryan D. Botello, Allen High School, son of David Botello of Plano, Texas, and Jesse and Cynthia Alvarez of Allen, Texas, Guinea-Bissau,

Vanessa Castro, Plano Senior High School, daughter of Myriam Castro of Plano and Abner Castro of Tuscon, Arizona, Guinea-Bissau,

Divya Mallela, Plano East Senior High School, daughter of Siva and Rekha Mallela, Portugal,

Preetha Swamy, Plano East Senior High School, daughter of Venkat and Alamelu Swamy, Guinea-Bissau,

Asil Yassine, Plano West Senior High School, daughter of Ali and Amal Yassine, Guinea-Bissau; 

Richardson, Texas

Tehreem Bilal, Richardson High School, daughter of Asma Khan and Tafseer Mirza, Estonia,

Sammy Yaish, James Bowie High School, son of Mohammad and Suhair Yaish, Portugal;

Riverside, California

Laura Nash, Jurupa Valley High School, daughter of Ana and Rick Nash, Estonia;

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Umair Karim, American International School, son of Anjum and Munazza Karim, Guinea-Bissau;

Rockwall, Texas

Robert Epps, Rockwall-Heath High School, son of Lynn and Keith Franklin, Guinea-Bissau;

San Antonio, Texas

Megan Luschen, Winston Churchill High School, daughter of David and Carol Luschen, Portugal,

Mathew Myers, Alamo Heights High School, son of Charles and Cheryl Myers, Estonia,

Jane Toh, John Marshall High School, daughter of Siew Choon Toh, Guinea-Bissau;

Sao Paulo, Brazil

Rebeca Ji Hae Kim, Coppell High School, daughter of Jang Kim and Ae Kwon, Estonia;

Seagoville, Texas

Chianti Walker, Seagoville High School, daughter of Tameggie Jones of Seagoville, Texas, and Allen A.K. Walker, Jr. of Gilmer, Texas, Estonia;

Sherman, Texas

Liz Ramirez, Sherman High School, daughter of Gustavo and Rosalba Ramirez, Guinea-Bissau,

Kallie Tyson, Home School, daughter of Terry and Marguerite Tyson, Estonia;

St. Petersburg, Russia

John Mark Purcell, The International Academy of St. Petersburg, son of Blake and Catherine Purcell, Head Delegate;

Tuscon, Arizona

Vanessa Castro, Plano Senior High School, daughter of Abner Castro of Tuscon and Myriam Castro of Plano, Texas, Guinea-Bissau;

Vancouver, Washington

Jessica Bufford, Columbia River High School, daughter of David and Judith Bufford, Head Delegate; 

Weatherford, Texas

Katie Heath, Weatherford High School, daughter of Kim and Steve Heath, Portugal;

Wylie, Texas

Michael Davidson, Wylie High School, son of Larry and Maureen Davidson, Guinea-Bissau. 

Austin College is a leading national independent liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas. Founded in 1849, making it the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original charter and name, the college is related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA). Recognized nationally for academic excellence in the areas of international education, pre-professional training, and leadership studies, Austin College is one of 40 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges that Change Lives.