The Kennesaw State Model NATO team is a student organization that has recently won awards for its annual participation in the International Model NATO conference held in Washington, D.C.
This year, 11 students representing the model NATO team participated in the 33rd Annual International Model NATO conference from Feb. 15-18. The team was led by Debbie Babecka, captain of the team and a sophomore nursing major, and Ansley Miller, a senior international affairs major.
The team brought home awards in all six committees as well as the Overall Outstanding Delegation Award, an award given to the top three delegations receiving the most points from votes during the conference.
After receiving a briefing at the Danish Embassy, the team represented Denmark in the North Atlantic Council, the Nuclear Planning Group, the Military Committee, the Political Committee, the Partnerships and Cooperative Security Committee and the Committee on Emerging Security Challenges.
Members of the team spend their time outside the conference mentally training to learn their assigned country inside and out. The team holds weekly debates that emphasize the point of view of a different NATO ally, and members also write research papers that detail the position of a country on various committee topics.
Babecka said students are expected to have a comprehensive knowledge of the assigned country’s position, which is determined a year before the next conference. Next year, the NATO team will be representing Poland.
Students that participate can expect to foster skills in public speaking, negotiation and diplomacy, which members can use in any professional realm.
“Personally, I have noticed that being a part of the team has helped me in classes that have nothing to do with international affairs,” Babecka said.
Senior lecturer of political science Stephen McKelvey expressed his gratitude for “their many months of hard work and dedication and commitment to excellence,” as well as the “exemplary and inspirational leadership shown by the two team captains.”
“The totality of the Kennesaw State’s victory was only possible because these two captain’s absolute dedication to the team and their ability to help each committee reach its highest potential,” McKelvey said.
This summer, Babecka and Miller will be replaced by Chris Engert, a junior international affairs major.
“I am very excited for Chris, and I have full confidence in his ability to lead the team next year in representing Poland,” Babecka said. “He has shown remarkable capabilities and commitment throughout the past year, both during preparations and at conference, and I can’t think of a better choice for captain. He’s awesome!”
Students looking to join the team should have a sense of appreciation and understanding of the NATO alliance. They need to demonstrate effective communication of the position of the country being represented, and lastly, they need to be a team player. Inquiring students can contact Engert at cengert1@students.kennesaw.edu.
