Lewis-Clark State College Students Excel at Model European Union Competition

SEATTLE — Lewis-Clark State College (LC State) students Tristan Hoffmann and Elleona Roberts Richmond earned awards at the annual West Coast Model European Union competition, held March 6-7 at the University of Washington in Seattle. The competition simulates a European Council Summit, challenging students to represent EU member states and navigate complex policy issues.

Awards and Recognition

Tristan Hoffmann, a history major with minors in Spanish and communications, received the Outstanding Paper Award for his position paper even as representing Austria as the Austrian chancellor. Elleona Roberts Richmond, studying social sciences with an emphasis in political science and a minor in Spanish, earned an Honorable Mention Award for her performance as the Austrian minister of the economy.

Navigating Complex Policy Challenges

This year’s competition focused on critical policy areas, including military procurement alignment, accelerated accession for Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia, access to arctic rare earth resources, and enhanced regulation of large digital platforms. Students engaged in simulated negotiations and debates, mirroring the real-world challenges faced by the European Union.

LC State’s Continued Success

LC State has consistently performed well at the Model EU competition since its first participation in 2013, accumulating a total of nine awards. Notably, five of these awards have been earned in the past three years. The college sends two students annually, and the team has secured five out of six possible awards in recent years.

Additional Achievements

LC State’s commitment to the Model EU extends beyond the competition itself. Last year, an LC State participant presented research at the Undergraduate Research Conference on the European Union at Claremont College, marking the third time an LC State student has received this honor and the first in a decade. LC State co-hosted the 2025 presidency of the competition alongside the University of Washington, a first for the institution.

About the Model European Union

The Model EU is an educational simulation where students learn about the European Union’s institutions, decision-making processes, and policy challenges. Participants develop skills in research, negotiation, diplomacy, and public speaking.