'A Strong Inclusive Community'
Ohio Wesleyan's Model United Nations Team Travels Across Country to Debate and Connect
Name: Jordan Lewis '28
Hometown: Vandalia, Ohio
High School: Vandalia-Butler High School
Major: Biochemistry
Minor: English
OWU Connection Experience: "The OWU Model United Nations team traveled to a total of four conferences this year. We traveled to Columbus, Ohio; Knoxville, Tennessee; Bloomington, Indiana; New York City, New York; and Williamsburg, Virginia.
"At these conferences, our amazing team debated their ideas, quickly brainstormed solutions, and formed strong connections with students from all around the country," Lewis says. "We also strengthened ties with neighboring schools, such as Ohio State University, and hosted a scrimmage with Kenyon University's Model UN Team. Our team won two verbal commendations and one best delegate award this year."
Why This Experience?
"I decided to join Model UN because I wanted to travel with a club while also forming strong connections with my peers. I thought Model UN was strictly about debating international political problems, but it is so much more than that.
"Model UN allows you to debate diverse topics that span out into fictional worlds as well. Not only could you be representing a country's stance on human rights policies, but you could also be representing a council member in a 'Star Wars' world.
"All this is to say, Model UN is meaningful to me because of the diversity it provides. Being a part of Model UN doesn't subject you to one type of debate topic and allows you to creatively explore how to improve your debate and writing skills. Also, the friends and connections you meet along the way are amazing.
"At all of the conferences I've been to, I've brainstormed and debated alongside some of the friendliest and most interesting students in the nation. And these connections do not end with the conference. By going to more and more conferences, you see a lot of familiar faces, and the connection is immediately reignited. Model UN forms a strong, inclusive community, and I look forward to coming back to it every year."
Favorite Moments
"My favorite moments of Model UN are the van rides. To save money, we travel to a lot of conferences in a van, and the memories that are made are plentiful. These van rides are a great way for the team to bond, get to know each other, and analyze how they can improve their performance in their committees."
In order to build confidence in your debating and writing skills, you have to form a strong support system with your team, and you can't do that by being antisocial.
Lessons Learned
"A few lessons I learned have to deal with my own debating and writing skills, and also my social skills.
"Debating on a topic you've never heard of is hard, but doing it under a strict time limit is even harder. In order to get better, you just have to keep practicing. But practicing will only get you half of the way there. In order to build confidence in your debating and writing skills, you have to form a strong support system with your team, and you can't do that by being antisocial.
"Model UN has taught me how to be more open to my teammates and let them know how I'm feeling and asking what I should do to improve in order to go into committee feeling confident and ready to debate whatever is on the agenda, whatever the time limit."
The 2025-2026 Team
The Model UN team included Lewis, as well as Anna Haines '26 (former president), Maddie Hoyt '26 (former vice president), Katie Strickland '28 (current co-president), Ella Holtsberry '26 (current co-vice president), Lauren James '29 (current co-vice president), Caleb Gunn '27 (current travel team coordinator), Chase Ellis '26, Sophia Schneiderhan '29, Anaya Belle '28, Elliott Montana '28, Jan Kubacek '26, Jillian Heter '26, Kavyanjali Sidhanta '28, Kayla Jackson '29, Kirstin Quinn '28, Max Fossaceca '27, Wesley Frymyer '29, Sam Hoffman '28, Nia Barjatya '27, MiKayla Boyd '28, and Maria Thibodeaux '27.
Campus Involvements
Lewis is also a member of Horizons, Ohio Wesleyan's multicultural club.
Why Ohio Wesleyan?
"I chose Ohio Wesleyan University because of the beautiful campus and the community. The opportunity to work with professors at such a close level, while also being in a small class, ensuring my voice is heard, is unmatched."
Plans After Graduation
"I plan to go to grad school to get my Ph.D. in chemistry. Right now, my focus is environmental chemistry, but it has the potential to change."