Anh Duong, John Hackenberg, Mark Manafo, Nadean Huck, Olena Surzhko,
Robin Kline, Jim Wertz, Nanette Grygier
From February 27 through March 2, 2002, eight students from Edinboro University participated in the 17th annual Model North Atlantic Treaty Organization conference in Washington, D.C. Cosponsors of the conference were Howard University and Kent State University. This forum highlights shared democratic values and the ways in which NATO protects and expands values through cooperation.
Sixteen universities, including the University of British Columbia, the United States Air Force Academy, Culver-Stockton College, and Shaw University, sent representatives to the Model NATO. In its first year as a participant, Edinboro University, which Edinboro University, which represented Portugal, finished in seventh place in balloting by student- delegates, using criteria such as "most effective delegation" and the group which "most authentically represented its nation."
Professors Ihor Bemko and Kyriakos Nalmpantis, both of the EUP History Department, served as faculty advisors. Leading the delegation as the Foreign Minister was history major Robin Kline. She and her deputy, social studies education major Mark Manafo represented Portugal on the North Atlantic Council, NATO's policy-making body. They presented the country's stance on various issues that came before the body, along with the effects of a simulated crisis--a series of terrorist attacks on England and France. The council "tasked" its subordinate committees with detailed issues. Two members of the Edinboro delegation served as vice-chairs: history major Nanette Grygier on the Economic Affairs Committee and social studies education major John Hackenberg on the Political-Military Steering Committee. Edinboro students represented Portugal on four other committees: business administration major Anh Duong on the Political-Military Steering Committee, history major Nadean on Defense Planning Committee, political science major Olena Surzhko on Political Affairs Committee, and history major Jim Wertz on Nuclear Planning Committee. Manafo, Hackenberg, Duong, and Surzhko are also members of the Honors-level U.S. since 1945 (HIST 366) seminar. They and others engaged in research which contributed to EUP success.
On the first day of the conference, delegates visited the Embassy of Portugal for a briefing from First Secretary Numo Mathias. That afternoon all delegates convened at Howard University for the opening session and then broke up into committees. These committees continued to meet through the next two days. On the last day, the North Atlantic Council finalized its resolutions on issues relating to the simulation.
| Edinboro students who represented Portugal: (left to right) Anh Duong, John Hackenberg, Mark Manafo, Nadean Huck, Olena Surzhko, Robin Kline, Jim Wertz, Nanette Grygier |
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| Foreign Minister Robin Kline, her deputy, Mark Manafo in a North Atlantic Council meeting. |
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| Scene from the headquarters: Professor Nalmpantis (seated) confers with his braintrust |
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| Committee meeting: Economic Affairs Committee Vice Chair Nanette Grygier helps run the meeting. |
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| Three delegates at the final meeting of the North Atlantic Council (left to right): John Hackenberg, Anh Duong, Jim Wertz |
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| Conference in the lobby (left to right): Nadean Huck, Robin Kline, Nanette Grygier (back to camera), Professor Ihor Bemko |
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