From left to right: Michelle Payne, faculty advisor; Zahraa Saheb, Aya Attia El-Alfi, Elsa Tovar (tallest in back), Zurra Hemani, Patricia Milbery, Abbey Borghee, Angela Reed, Ashley Cain, Mason Standish and Tyler J. Mendez.

This April, Texas Wesleyan's Model Arab League team received top honors while representing the United Arab Emirates at the regional conference in Commerce, Texas. 

The 10-member team received Overall Outstanding Delegation, the highest honor that can be awarded in the team competition. Members of the debate delegation team included Abbey Borghee, Tyler J. Mendez, Mason Standish, Ashley Cain, Aya Attia El-Alfi, Patricia Milbery, Elsa Tovar, Angela Reed, Zurra Hemani and Zahraa Saheb.

Four students were recognized as Outstanding Delegates: Tyler J. Mendez, Mason Standish, Zahraa Saheb and Aya Attia El-Alfi‎. Abbey Borghee and Ashley Cain received honorable mention. Michelle Payne, Ph.D., professor of political science, served as faculty advisor.

Other universities participating in this year's competition included Baylor University, Centenary College of Louisiana, Texas A&M University – Commerce, Arkansas Tech University, Oklahoma Baptist University, Oklahoma Christian University, Oral Roberts University, University of Houston—Downtown and Missouri Southern State University.

Under the leadership of Halil Ibrahim Salih, Ph.D., professor of political science, Texas Wesleyan students have been participating in the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations' Model Arab League (MAL) Program for nearly 30 years. The program gives undergraduate college students the opportunity to learn about the politics and history of the Arab world and the art of diplomacy and public speech.

MAL competition prepares students to be informed and effective citizens as well as civic and public affairs leaders.  

Last fall, Salih and Borghee were selected to receive the prestigious Malone Fellowship, a cultural and educational exchange experience for undergraduate students and Model Arab League faculty advisors. 

Congratulations to Dr. Salih and our MAL team.