Olivia Whitfield

The West Forum Internship Award: Every year, The West forum sponsors an annual internship with a government agency or other political organization. The West Forum intern receives a cash reward from the West Forum and may also receive academic credit for the internship.

The Stephen Smith Award for Civically and Politically Engaged Undergraduate Research: This award will be presented annually to an outstanding undergraduate majoring or minoring in Political Science who has participated in and/or presented civically and politically engaged undergraduate research that uses the study of political science to make the world a better place.

Winthrop University Melford Wilson International Relations Award: In recognition of an outstanding undergraduate majoring or minoring in Political Science who demonstrates a commitment to International Relations and the Model United Nations Program.

Devise outreach strategies to boost student involvement in global and domestic political discussions and promote awareness of international policy. Orchestrate voter literacy initiatives to boost student participation in both local and national elections. Plan and coordinate events and workshops to educate students on civic duties, including voter registration drives and political advocacy training. Facilitate communications between executive members, local political organizations, and the student body to ensure alignment on key issues.

Acted as a student representative tasked with participating in institutional decision-making processes and advocating for student interests. Facilitated discussions between student leaders and university administration on topics such as campus policies, student affairs, and academic programs. Served as a member of the Civic Engagement Committee aiming to promote student participation in university governance and community service initiatives. Planned and organized the annual trip to the South Carolina State House for 50+ students and faculty by coordinating logistics and ensuring engagement with state representatives.

Execute in-depth research on pressing global issues such as gender equality, climate action, and global health crises to develop comprehensive position papers and resolutions. Represent assigned member states at multiple Model UN conferences across the South, contributing to high-level debates and policy discussions. Coordinate with fellow delegates to draft and negotiate resolutions on international challenges, honing diplomatic and negotiation skills. Earn recognition with delegation and committee awards for exceptional participation and performance in simulated UN assemblies. Helped plan and run the 48th annual Model UN conference attended by 500+ high school and college students, ensuring smooth operations and logistics. Collaborated with faculty and staff to coordinate event logistics, including venue setup, speaker arrangements, and schedule management. Moderated discussions and debates on global issues to guide participants through complex policy simulations. Engaged in post-conference evaluations and feedback to identify areas of improvement for future conferences.