Two University of Arkansas at Little Rock students took home awards for their diplomatic efforts at the International Model Arab League.

Sydney Brazil, philosophy major, won the Outstanding Delegate Award for her notable efforts representing the country of Tunisia on the Council of Social Affairs ministers. 

Madison Rodgers, a junior political science major, received an honorable mention in the Outstanding Delegate category for her excellent work representing the Sultanate of Oman on the Council of Economic Affairs.

They were among 17 UA Little Rock students who competed in the international competition for university students from Oct. 19-22 at the Université International de Rabat in Morocco.

 “I was so grateful for this opportunity,” Rodgers said. “Traveling to Morocco was truly life-changing and gave me a whole new perspective on how I look at life. I had never won an award at a Model Arab League conference before, and I put in a lot of work during this conference in pursuit of one. I will remember it forever.” 

The major issues Rodger’s council discussed included addressing economic inequality and job insecurity in the region. 

“We also discussed how to expand non-oil sectors in order to diversify the region’s economies,” Rodgers said. “Arab citizens are all affected by economic inequalities and job insecurity and that affects the overall economy. Diversifying the economy is very important because if the demand for oil begins to shrink, this will cause a drop off in many Arab, oil-based economies, so other avenues need to be explored.” 

The Model Arab League is a student leadership development program created by the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations. It is a simulation of an international organization, the League of Arab States, which represents 22 countries.

In the upper right image, Model Arab League Advisor Rebecca Glazier (middle) poses with Sydney Brazil (left) and Madison Rogers (right), who won awards at the International Model Arab League in Morocco.