Your passport to global affairs

SWFL Model UN Has Another Record Year

As 340 High School Delegates Compete

A record number of more than 340 high school delegates competed March 2 and 3 on the FGCU campus for more than $60,000 in scholarships and awards. This year's event surpassed last year's competition, which was the biggest in its history, when 250 students competed.

SWFLMUN is an academic program of the Naples Council on World Affairs (NCWA), engaging students from Collier, Lee, Charlotte and other area counties in rigorous, student-led debate on today’s most pressing global challenges. NCWA administers the competition, funds the awards, provides judges and other staff. For more than three decades, the program has helped cultivate informed, confident and globally minded young leaders.

More than 120 community volunteers—including committee chairs, judges, registrars and position paper reviewers—power the event each year, contributing thousands of hours to ensure a high-quality experience for all delegates.      

Diana McGowen Most Improved School Award ($500, sponsored by the Purvis Family Fund), Bishop Verot Catholic High School, Coach Rob Schmidbauer

Outstanding Team Leadership Awards ($1,000 each), Gateway High School, Bishop Verot High School and Cypress Lake High School

Best in Committee Awards (“Gavel Awards”), awarded to the highest-scoring delegates in each committee. Winners receive a gavel and $1,000 prize (second place $500).

Crisis Committee Awards are funded by the Bill Garvelink Memorial Crisis Management Fund, and Press Corps awards are funded by Janet Markel. Selected winners include:

• South Asia Heat Dome (Crisis): Ezekial Fernandez, Gulf Coast High School; Nicolas Duenas, Gulf Coast High School; 
  

Timothy Harrison — North Korea delegation 

• Syrian Reconstruction (OCHA Crisis): Juliana Dalao, Gulf Coast High School; Davide Jordan, Gulf Coast High School; Aidan Trapani, Gulf Coast High School
  
• Genocide in Sudan, UN Department of Peace Operations: Braxton Cabrera, Gulf Coast High School and John Zangrillo, Gulf Coast High School (tie), and Azriela Contreras, Canterbury School (tie); Haley Sharry, Gulf Coast High School
  

International Monetary Fund & UNDESA: Isaac Garatejo, Gulf Coast High School; Sahana Kanda, Gulf Coast High School; Giovanna Borges, Aubrey Rogers High School

UN Security Council: Arya Rajaram, Gulf Coast High School; Gus Lessinger, Cypress Lake High School

World Trade Organization: Luke Brownlee, Gulf Coast High School; Arnav Dabas, Gulf Coast High School; Talia Matten, Babcock Ranch High School

Climate Change (UNFCCC): Lavya Patel, Gulf Coast High School; Naresh Ram, Gulf Coast High School; Nakirra Fadael, Gulf Coast High School

Commission on the Status of Women: Samantha Fulcher, Gulf Coast High School; Sofia Babbitt, Barron Collier High School; Serenity Partridge, Gulf Coast High School

Press Corps: Giovanni Wallace, Cypress Lake High School; Isabella Mparaganda, Bishop Verot High School

Student Delegate Caucus Awards ($250): Recognizing exceptional leadership and collaboration: Catherine Saadeh, Gulf Coast High School; John Harris, Cypress Lake High School

Oakridge Middle School Team Wins 2026 Middle School Academic WorldQuest Championship

A team of seventh graders from Oakridge Middle School claimed first place at the 2026 Middle School Academic WorldQuest (AWQ) competition, outperforming 27 other teams and 108 students from seven Collier County middle schools in a fast-paced contest of global knowledge.

Hosted by the Naples Council on World Affairs (NCWA) on February 28 at the Community School of Naples gymnasium, the annual competition drew 28 teams and more than 200 parents, teachers, supporters, and volunteers for a spirited morning of academic challenge and community celebration.

The championship team from Oakridge Middle School included Santiago Grana, John “JT” Haney, Jordan Rodriguez, and Joseph “Nolen” Walter.

To earn the title, the students met weekly at school to review practice materials and studied independently, mastering topics in national and international affairs provided by NCWA. Their coaches are Taylor Arnold and Andrea Polanco. Ms. Polanco was recently named Collier County Teacher of the Year for 2025.

“The students work incredibly hard. AWQ gives them a goal to work toward,” said Coach Arnold.

Academic WorldQuest serves as a dynamic complement to the social studies curriculum across Collier County schools.

“It’s a learning experience they can’t get any other place,” said Mikie Stroh, Collier County Schools Social Studies Coordinator. “It’s an amazing opportunity for students to demonstrate what they are learning about the world.”

Second place honors went to Pine Ridge Middle School’s team of Julian Connor Bartruff, Christian Castano, Bradley Fabian, and Samone Sharma. Third place was awarded to another Oakridge Middle School team comprised of Trivarn Bheemanapalli, Clara Cushman, Gavin Harhen, and Elizabeth Wilson.

Participating Collier County middle schools included Community School of Naples, Oakridge Middle School, Marco Island Charter School, Seacrest Country Day School, North Naples Middle School, and Pine Ridge Middle School.

“We are proud of our middle school AWQ participants and hope they continue their involvement through high school,” said Dr. Michael Finkel, Director of Academic WorldQuest for middle and high school and board member of the Naples Council on World Affairs.

For more than a decade, NCWA has hosted Academic WorldQuest competitions for middle and high school students in Southwest Florida. Nationwide, more than 40 local World Affairs Councils host AWQ competitions each year, engaging more than 3,000 students from diverse geographic and economic backgrounds and inspiring a culture of global awareness and civic engagement.

2026 Southwest Florida Middle School AWQ Categories were World Geography, Forms of Government, Current Events, 250th Anniversary of the United States, European Union and NATO, Australia, Flags of the World, World Leaders, Women’s Rights and Indigenous Peoples.

Member Survey: High Satisfaction, Suggestions Made for Improvements

NCWA's recent member survey showed it is healthy and stable two years after the end of the pandemic. Member satisfaction remained very high, although improvements can be made in programs and in staying relevant in rapidly changing times. The Board of Directors began to use this information in plans for this season and beyond.

Attendance at lectures continued to be high, as it was two years ago when the previous survey was done. Live-streaming of lectures was popular. Ratings for the quality of lectures were 88% and quality of topics 87%, compared to an overall 88% two years ago. The lecture program was considered highly timely and relevant. Members found the lecture venue to be convenient and comfortable.

Great Decisions participants thought the material in the briefing books and supplemental reading supplied by NCWA was better, but there was need for more improvement. 

The program for bringing guests to lectures and Great Decisions meetings was used by 31% of the respondents last season and 92% were willing to bring guests this season. More members preferred using the updated website than the call center because of wait times to reach the call center, although many said they like to use both. 28% of respondents were highly likely to donate some amount to NCWA student programs, such as summer scholarships, Model UN or Academic WorldQuest. To read members' written comments, click here.

Members in Survey Offered Suggestions
And Thanks to NCWA Leaders

Lectures: 

• Topics: The addition of broader topics in the international arena (global education and health, supply chains, impact of cryptocurrency on financial markets, etc.) was suggested. 
  
• Speakers: Lecturers were regarded as generally excellent, but a mixture of experts from various perspectives (fewer think tanks, more from the field, government, foreign countries) and from varied areas (Latin America, Africa) would be welcome. Also, members suggested fewer repeat appearances by speakers.
  
• Some asked for a wider diversity of perspectives, requested a more "balanced political/economic view" and suggested presentation of two points of view on a single topic. 
• Members emphasized the need to keep introductions of speakers short and to cut off “speeches” and irrelevant questions during the question-and-answer period. 
  
• Some members expressed problems hearing at lectures. The venue provides hearing assistance which will be more prominently promoted for members with hearing difficulties.

Great Decisions: Briefing books continue to challenge our members. Supplemental materials could be shorter and more clearly written. 

General:

• Members aren't given enough information about where and how to volunteer.
  
• They want social interaction and opportunities to discuss with others what they are learning.
  
• Some suggested using dues to support more member activities and that all scholarships should be funded by donors. 

Membership and Marketing:

• Diversify the age of membership, leadership and audience.
  
• Develop use of social media.
  
• Reach out to the community.
  

NCWA leadership: Keep up the good work!

NCWA leaders are appreciated. But make sure NCWA is current and relevant to the times. 

Travel with WACA Members

NCWA members enjoy the companionship of like-minded explorers when they explore the world with the World Affairs of America (WACA) travel program. Administered by the Philadelphia Council, tours led by Council members go to a wide variety of destinations. For more information, go to www.wacphila.org.