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POSI Students Attend 26th Annual Eugene Scassa Mock Organization of American States

From November 3rd through the 5th, Texas State Students participated in the 26th Annual Eugene Scassa Mock Organization of American States (ESMOAS) competition at Baylor University. The competition hosted 110 students representing schools throughout the region, including Baylor University, Angelo State University, Texas A&M Commerce, and the National Autonomous University of Mexico. Texas State students, representing the nations of Jamaica, Panama, and Trinidad & Tobago, fielded an eighteen-member delegation that competed in ESMOAS’ Summit of Americas competition, as well as a six-student team that competed in the ESMOAS’ Inter-American Court on Human Rights (IACHR) moot court competition. Debating a host of topics, ranging from improving food and water security to utilizing education to strengthen democratic participation, Texas State students were able to gain valuable skills and gain valuable experience.

Representing Team Jamaica was Alexis Jones, Taylor Tade, Jose Rios, Julia Maldonado, and Newsha Salehkhah. Cadi Powers, Gabbie Lindsay, Prince Kamanda, Ben Nudelman, Kacendra Cyr, and Luis Davila represented Team Panama. Tennyson Moreno, Jaime Castiblanco, Austin Mata, Maddy Morales, and Katie Vosko represented Trinidad & Tobago. Texas State was represented by two teams at the IACHR Moot Court Competition. The first consisted of Mason Melead and Arleth Herrera, Catching Valentinis-Dee and Marie Frere. The second consisted of Stephen Lara and Isabel Durate. 

The team excelled and the competition and won numerous awards. Among the highlights, the moot court team of Mason Melead and Arleth Herrera won Top Legal Team in the IACHR Moot Court Competition.  Team Jamaica also won Distinguished Delegation (the second-place team award at the Summit of the Americas competition). In addition, Ornella Fantoni won the Outstanding Rapporteur Award; Gabbie Lindsay won the special Stegall & Frederick Diplomacy Award; Catching Valentinis-Dee won the Top IACHR Moot Court Orator Award; and Tay Williams was elected President for the 27th ESMOAS competition. Model Organization of American States President Tay Williams speaking on her experience stated that the ESMOAS competition “helped me not only grow in my public speaking, but also in my leadership. It’s an experience that has helped me make life-long friendships and strengthened my self-confidence.” Political Science Junior Melead said, “The skills I learned relating to formulating an argument, finding supporting evidence, and communicating my thoughts will serve me the rest of my life.” Capping the overall experience, Political Science Freshman, Lindsay said, “this weekend taught me a lot of valuable information and lessons, especially about how important it is to form relations. This weekend also left me with new friends, and I’m definitely excited to come back next year.”

The complete list of the awards and honors our received by Texas State students is as follows: 

– Newsha Salehkhah Selected to the Student Advisory Committee.

– Tay Williams

Served as Chair of Secretariat for Multidimensional Security.

– Tay Williams

Served as Assistant Secretary General.

– Alexis Jones Distinguished Crisis Speech (2nd Place in Committee), General Committee.

– Gabbie Lindsay Distinguished Resolution (2nd Place in Committee), Secretariat for Integral Development.

– Katie Vosko Recognized Resolution (3rd Place in Committee), Secretariat for Political Affairs.

– Gabbie Lindsay Distinguished Delegate (2nd Place in Committee), Secretariat for Integral Development.

– Julia Maldonado Distinguished Delegate (2nd Place in Committee), Secretariat for Multidimensional Security.

– Alexis Jones Distinguished Delegate (2nd Place in Committee), General Committee.

– Ornella Fantoni Outstanding Rapporteur (1st Place Overall).

– Catching Valentinis-Dee

Top IACHR Moot Court Orator (1st Place), IACHR Moot Court.

– Gabbie Lindsay Stegall & Frederick Diplomacy Award.

– Alexis Jones, Taylor Tade, Jose Rios, Julia Maldonado, Newsha Salehkhah (Team Jamaica) Distinguished Delegation (2nd Place Overall)

– Mason Melead and Arleth Herrera

Top Legal Team (1st Place), IACHR Moot Court.

– Tay Williams

Elected as President of the 27th ESMOAS competition.

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One Comment

  1. Jacqueline Rodriguez November 9, 2022

    Congratulations

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