Prevena receives hero’s welcome after historic win in US
BAYAN LEPAS: Prevena Ramakrishnan, the Malaysian student who won two awards at the 2017 International Model United Nations conference in the United States, was given a hero’s welcome yesterday.
Prevena, who touched down at Penang International Airport at 11.30am, received a bouquet of flowers from her teachers and classmates from SMK Sultan Badlishah.
They were also holding up a banner to welcome her home.
Present were Prevena’s mother, S. Jaya Devi and father, R. Ramakrishnan.
“She has made the country and our school proud. She is a bright student and deserves recognition,” said her English teacher, Kamila Mahali.
Prevena was the first student in the country to be selected for the conference in the US.
Out of 96 delegations from around the world, Prevena won the Best Speaker and Best Position Paper awards based on her presentations on two topics.
“There were many delegates who were more experienced than me and I did not expect to win.
“I was lost for words when I was told that I had won the awards,” she said.
The conference was held by the International Model United Nations Association of United States, a not-for-profit organisation under the UN.
The organisation is dedicated to promoting global issues on education through simulation, and host premier education-based conferences around the world.