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Rollins Student Brings Home Best Delegate from UPenn Model UN 

Graphic by Ivelisse Rodriguez

Standing where Benjamin Franklin once shaped American democracy, a Rollins student carried on that legacy at the University of Pennsylvania’s 57th annual Model UN conference, earning the Best Delegate award for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) committee.  

The conference, lovingly referred to as UPMUNC by delegates, is hosted annually by students at the University of Pennsylvania. This year’s iteration was held from November 7-10, with Rollins one of the many colleges in attendance. 

Kate Puharich (‘27) represented the Maldives, the lowest-lying country in the world, and voiced the concerns of a small island in addressing the rising issue of climate change.  

“The person that won Best Delegate for our college was my friend Kate, and she did fantastic,” said Claire Classon (‘27), delegate for the Republic of Chad. “She was incredibly diplomatic; she was super smart. A Best Delegate is very well-spoken, and she really let that shine while she was at the conference.” 

Puharich was able to successfully pass her “Coastal Sunrise” resolution, which focused on creating climate-resilient infrastructure, prioritizing the needs of countries at risk of climate migration, and building sustainable frameworks. 

“I’m incredibly proud of Kate,” said Classon. “The whole team is. We’re all super excited for her.” 

Photo by Kate Puharich

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