Texas State Students participated in the 29h Annual Eugene Scassa Mock Organization of American States (ESMOAS) competition at the University of St. Thomas form November 14-16, 2025. At the competition, there were 140 students representing schools throughout the region, including the University of Texas, Baylor University, Angelo State University, St. Mary’s University, and the National Autonomous University of Mexico. Representing the nations of Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, Texas State fielded a twenty-three-member delegation that competed in ESMOAS’ Summit of Americas competition.
- Representing Team Mexico was Em Boegel, Amy Chaffee, Emmanuel Briseno-Hernandez, Grayson Bentley, and Maya Garcia.
- Travis Buchanan, Brian McCutchon, Bohdi Rosen, and Gabriel Quesada represented Team Honduras.
- Lucy Beaty, Savanna Tremback, Alondra Ayala, Emma Nowak, and Alazne Leon represented Team Guatemala.
- Representing Team El Salvador was Carson Raatz, Matt Rennert, Eddie Almanza, Jonathan Hebler, and Santiago Lopez.
- Finally, Sofia Hernandez, Gabe Marquez, Alli Mccalla, and Lily Alvarez were part of the student officer group for the ESMOAS competition.
Debating a host of topics, ranging from improving access to healthcare to mitigating gender-based violence, Texas State students were able to gain skills and experiences that will benefit their future endeavors. Capping the overall experience, senior Political Science major, Sofia Hernandez said, “As the MOAS President and Chairperson for the Budget Committee, it was a wonderful experience to see the fruits of TXST students’ labor from class and witness their growth in speech and debate throughout the competition. I am very proud to have seen their speaking skills and confidence grow throughout the semester, and I look forward to seeing how this program continues to succeed with all of the dedicated students involved!”
While this year’s ESMOAS competition was helpful in enhancing the abilities and experiences of our students, they also won numerous awards. Highlighting the awards that Texas State students won, Team Honduras won Distinguished Delegation (the second-place overall team award at the Summit of the Americas competition), while Team El Salvador won Outstanding Delegation (the first-place overall team award at the Summit of Americas competition). In addition, Travis Buchanan won the Recognized Ambassador Award (the third-place place overall individual award at the competition), while Carson Raatz won Outstanding Ambassador Award (the first-place overall individual award at the competition). The complete list of the awards and honors received by Texas State students is as follows:
- Gabe Marquez – Served as Chair of the Executive Secretariat for Integral Development
- Sofia Hernandez – Served as Chair of the Budgetary Committee
- Alli Mccalla -Served as Rapporteur of the Executive Secretariat for Integral Development
- Lily Alvarez – Served as Rapporteur of the Budgetary Committee
- Lucy Beaty – Agenda Topic Award, General Committee
- Alondra Ayala – Recognized Resolution (3rd Place in Committee), Executive Secretariat for Integral Development
- Emmanuel Briseno-Hernandez – Distinguished Resolution (2nd Place in Committee), Executive Secretariat for Integral Development
- Eddie Almanza – Recognized Delegate (3rd Place in Committee), Secretariat for Access to Rights and Equity
- Carson Raatz – Recognized Delegate (3rd Place in Committee), General Committee
- Bohdi Rosen – Distinguished Delegate (2nd Place in Committee), Executive Secretariat for Integral Development
- Alondra Ayala – Outstanding Delegate (1st Place in Committee) Executive Secretariat for Integral Development
- Carson Raatz – Recognized Crisis Speech (3rd Place Overall), General Committee
- Em Boegel, Amy Chaffee, Emmanuel Briseno-Hernandez, Grayson Bentley, Maya Garcia (Team Mexico) – Distinguished Position Paper (2nd Place Overall)
- Travis Buchanan – Recognized Ambassador (3rd Place Overall)
- Carson Raatz – Outstanding Ambassador (1st Place Overall)
- Travis Buchanan, Brian McCuthon, Matt Rennert, Bohdi Rosen, and Gabriel Quesada (Team Honduras) – Distinguished Delegation (2nd Place Overall)
- Carson Raatz, Eddie Almanza, Matt Rennert, Jonathan Hebler, and Santiago Lopez (Team El Salvador) – Outstanding Delegation (1st Place Overall).
The Model Organization of American States (MOAS) is an academic organization through which students learn how the Organization of American States operates by competing in student debate competitions, such as the Eugene Scassa Mock Organization of American States. In MOAS, students study parliamentary debate, diplomacy and the economic, political, and security issues facing the Americas today. For additional information, see the organization’s webpage here or email Prof. Ben Arnold at ca17@txstate.edu.
