IRVINE

Six Irvine Valley College students from diverse backgrounds united as a mock delegation from Mongolia to win an honorable mention award at the model United Nations conference in New York.

The political science class simulated U.N. committees and got hands-on experience in leadership, public speaking, negotiation and knowledge of world affairs, said instructor Stuart Frame.

The five-day national conference last month was attended by students from 200 colleges and universities. Thirty awards were presented.

Frame said he is proud of his students because they held their own against others from prestigious universities. Ten community colleges attended the conference and Irvine Valley was one of only two that received awards.