Centenary College students achieve success at Houston Bilateral Chamber Model Arab League Conference
SHREVEPORT, LA — From February 20 through 22, ten Centenary students participated in this year's Southwest Bilateral Chamber Model Arab League conference in Houston, Texas to represent the Republic of Sudan.
Dr. Chad Fulwider, Professor of History and Political Science Program Coordinator, prepared students since January for this competitive event. The conference models the workings of the Arab League, where students simulate diplomatic negotiations, policy debates, and resolutions on regional issues as representatives of their chosen team country to deepen their understanding of international diplomacy. Each student claims a council in which they study and navigate specific regional issues. This year, the Centenary team was the only group outside of Texas participating, with five schools competing in total.
The team demonstrated strong collaboration and diplomacy, earning recognition for their efforts. Senior Arionna Thomas and Junior Annabeth Vogler received the award for Best Delegation in Political Affairs. Additionally, Senior Braydon Gaston and Sophomore Kelsei Simon received recognition for Best Delegation in Social Affairs. The entire Centenary team was honored with the Top Delegation Award for the conference overall.
“Participating in the conference was a great learning experience, even for someone not majoring in those directly related fields. This was my second time competing, and I gained a deeper understanding of diplomacy, teamwork, and cultural awareness. I highly recommend it to any interested students!” said Arionna Thomas.
As part of their experience, the students toured The Ismaili Center in Houston to engage with representatives from Texas schools, gaining valuable insights into regional diplomacy, cultural practices, and leadership skills to be better global citizens.
The Model Arab League was established in 1983 by the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations as an opportunity for primarily American, but also Arab and other international students, to put themselves in the shoes of real-life Arab diplomats and foreign affairs professionals.