Students representing Coastal Carolina University's Model United Nations team brought home five awards at the Southern Regional Model United Nations (SRMUN) competition, held in Atlanta Nov. 20 through 22.

Twenty CCU students, split into two teams at the conference, represented Argentina and Israel at the conference. Ian Detwweiler, a junior intelligence and security studies major from Greene, N.Y. and Danielle Ives, a Scholars Academy student from Myrtle Beach, were honored as Best Delegates. Two awards for most improved delegates went to Christina Davis, political science major from Spartanburg, and Dalton Trout, a Scholars Academy student from Conway. CCU's delegation also brought back an award for Best Position Paper for the Israel Delegation.

Pamela Martin, an associate professor of politics, is the Model UN's instructor and adviser. She believes the SRMUN competition affords students an occasion to showcase their professionalism, hard work and negotiation skills. She also noted how well they worked as a team and with students from other institutions.

"It [the competition] provides an opportunity to gain training for a future global career," she says. "It also provides an excellent networking base."

The SRMUN featured 650 students representing more than 50 schools from across the U.S. and overseas. The Fall 2013 conference centered on sustainable development and the post 2015 millenium development goals.