This year’s Kennesaw State University Model NATO Team is currently preparing to represent the Republic of Poland at the 2016 International Model NATO Conference in Washington, D.C. from Feb. 11-14, 2015.
The Model NATO Team was created by its faculty advisor and professor of political science at KSU, Dr. Stephen McKelvey, in the fall of 2012. Before this, McKelvey was the faculty advisor for KSU’s Model UN Team for nine years. Since the NATO Team’s creation, it has won 11 awards over three years, which includes eight individual awards and three team awards.
The purpose of the team is to simulate the basic proceedings of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, an international military alliance consisting of the United States, Canada, and 26 European countries. Schools from across the U.S., as well as from other NATO member countries, come together in D.C. to participate in a mock NATO conference and represent their assigned nations.
This year KSU will be representing Poland, a country close to McKelvey’s heart.
“We generally have good luck with Poland,” McKelvey said, referencing the Model UN Team of 1993, which he describes as his “best team” and of 2008, another “magnificent team.”
According to McKelvey, his 1993 team even inspired the Polish Embassy in D.C. to update their position papers after seeing the team’s papers, calling them the best they had seen in decades.
Laura Alford, a junior International Affairs major, captain of the 2015-2016 team and member of the 2014-2015 team, speaks of her week in D.C. as being “one of the best and worst experiences of my life.” In addition to giving her memories that will stick with her for the rest of her life, the team forced her to overcome her insecurities about speaking.
“When I say conference was…a slightly traumatic experience, it sounds like it’s a bad thing,” Alford said. “But it was actually one of the most beneficial things I had done while in college. I think that in every person’s life there are a few key moments that they can look back on and really say something changed them for the better—that was what conference was to me.”
Current team member and a junior IA major Hal Berger says that while his passion for international security made joining the team a natural decision, he also joined because of the friendships that the team creates.
“As a transfer student from another state, I only had a few friends here in Georgia,” said Berger. “By joining the model NATO team, I have met so many wonderful people whom I hope to be friends with for a very long time.”
Mirna Zaher, a sophomore Mechanical Engineering major and current team member, strongly encourages students of any major to join.
“This is a great way to continue to learn about things I love. It also helps me to improve my communication, computation, and listening skills. These are things that anyone, no matter what their major is, can benefit from.”
“I came into college as a musical theatre major, so I was definitely not what you would consider a NATO girl!” Noelle Lashley, a sophomore Communication and IA major and member of the 2014-2015 team, adds. “I was terrified that I was going to be the least intelligent person on the team. Now, I can discuss the history of the United Kingdom, offer commentary on the political leaders, explain drone schematics, rant about the definition of the word ‘solidarity,’ and have excited conversations about fighter jets with anyone who is willing to listen.”
“The biggest life lesson I learned from being a part of a team was how important it is to make a stand,” Lashley concludes. “Now, when I am faced with a conflict, I know how to diplomatically stand up for what I believe. NATO showed me what I need to be strong, and how to use my voice for good.”
