President of the Foreign Affairs Club: Matthew Rands

Matthew Rands grew up in Fairfax, VA and St. Louis, MO. He attended high school at Asociación Escuelas Lincoln in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Obtaining an eagle scout award he believes strongly in service to others. After graduation Matthew enlisted in the Utah National Guard as a parachute rigger for the 19th SFG. In 2014 he worked with the UIMF to host delegates. Later he was authorized a 2 year leave to serve an LDS mission in Santa Cruz, Bolivia where he further refined his Spanish and grew to love the Bolivian people. Today he is the president of the Foreign Affairs Club and studies Political Science with an emphasis on World Politics including minors in Spanish and Latin American studies. Matthew contracted with the UVU ROTC. He Anticipates to be commissioned as an officer in the U.S Army upon graduation and live a life of service to his state and nation

Vice President and an Attache of the Foreign Affairs Club: Munkhbat Batmunkh

Munkhbat Batmunkh is a student of Utah Valley University (UVU), and working towards his B.A. on Political Science/Public Law degree. In 2015 Munkhbat has completed his internship as a task force specialist at the Mongolian Parliament’s Standing Committee on State Structure. As an intern, Munkhbat contributed to the comparative studies of law drafts, assisted with bill inquiries and combined contradiction of principles and translations. Recently Munkhbat has contributed his assistance to the Fourth Congressional District of Utah’s Colleges Exit Poll 2016, as a field researcher. Munkhbat is also an active member of the Utah International Mountain Forum (UIMF) and a Vice President and an Attache of the Foreign Affairs Club of UVU. As a Vice President and an Attache of the Foreign Affairs Club, he has been responsible for the outreach of the club activities and managing the web-site www.utahimf.org since 2015. His focus is to contribute more to the Foreign Affairs Club and UIMF to keep the students engaged, and academic learning experience to the next generation to aspire the future diplomats with a focus on sustainable mountain development in particular. That way the next generation would build up more confidence and professionalism when they graduate from school.

Vice President of the Foreign Affairs Club: William Crist

William was born in Henderson, Nevada, but has spent most of his life in Utah. He graduated from Pleasant Grove High School in 2012, and has been attending Utah Valley University (UVU). William was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 3, which has heavily impacted his work ethic and drive to be a healthy and active individual. In his time while attending Utah Valley University (UVU), William has worked toward his B.A. In Political Science, and plans on continuing his education toward a law degree. As a member of the UIMF and Foreign Affairs Club, William has contributed his time and passion for promoting sustainable mountain development. He enjoys attending sporting events and playing sports, and playing video games with his friends and family.

Member: Andy Loy

Andy Loy grew up in the piney woods of Deep East Texas. In his teens, he worked closely with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (TXDFPS) to provide clothing and supplies to severely abused children who had been removed from hazardous environments. While working with the TXDFPS, he received the Emmy Lou Baldridge award from the state of Texas and obtained the rank of Eagle in the Boy Scouts of America. After he graduated high school, he left the wetlands to tour Alaska as a volunteer Christian missionary for two years. He spent that time serving people from all over the world in Palmer, Anchorage, Kodiak Island and North Pole. A significant amount of his tour was spent working closely with military members and the Filipino people. He easily fell in love with both cultures. Since he couldn’t become Filipino, he joined the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps shortly after returning to the lower forty-eight. Currently, he attends UVU working on a degree in political science with an emphasis on international relations.

Member: Cole Bertelsen

Cole was born and raised in Springville, Utah where he graduated from Springville High School in 2013. After graduating he served a full-time mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in El Salvador and Belize. He currently is a sophomore at Utah Valley University studying History Education with the goal of becoming a college professor. He enjoys reading, sports and playing golf. In January 2017 he married his wife Jenny, they currently reside in Provo, Utah.

Member: Sadie Simper

Sadie Lauran Simper is a Political Science major at Utah Valley University. She is currently living in Provo with her husband, Brett who she married in 2015. Sadie is a Springville High School Graduate and lived there most of her life, volunteering in the community on the Springville Museum of Art’s Art Royalty, and on the Springville City Youth Council. Sadie hopes to someday open her own political consulting business.

Member: Becca Bindraban

Becca is a sophomore at UVU. She moved to Utah a few years ago from New York. A year ago she transferred from the University of Utah to UVU and she is loving it. She is a political science major with an emphasis on world politics and am also pursuing minor in biology and peace and justice studies. Growing up she was fortunate enough to have traveled to many foreign countries and from the very beginning have been interested in international affairs and am very passionate about the environment as well. Moving to Utah has been great and there is no outdoor playground like Utah. In her free time Becca enjoys outdoor activities and taking trips to Moab. She also loves to volunteer and take part in political activities. Particularly she is interested in environmental sustainability, women and children’s rights and foreign policy and exposure to these subjects.

Member: Mark Driggs

Mark Driggs was born in Burley, Idaho but was adopted at birth and raised in Provo, Utah. Mark attended Timpview High School where he graduated in 2014. After his graduation Mark served an LDS Mission in Chiclayo, Peru. While in Peru Mark had the opportunity to serve the local people where he came to appreciate and love people of the Mountains. Mark is currently attending Utah Valley University where he is studying Political Science with an emphasis in National Security. Mark enjoys music and spending time with family and friends.