Students in Model UN attended the MUN Conference in Canyon Texas where they won Best Large Delegation among 10 other schools. The conference consisted of several delegations with multiple committees, each committee representing a different country. The students in Model UN replicate the United Nations General Assembly and its other multilateral bodies in which they perform ambassador roles while debating gender equality, climate action, global health, among other topics. In preparation for the conference, students began mock trials as early as January.
One mock trial was the discussion of the curfew on campus – one student represented faculty, another, the student body, dorm residents, security and other entities on campus. Students had to research and interview the people they represented beforehand. All of the students’ mock trials equipped them with the knowledge and pace they needed to win a majority of the awards at the conference, for which the group won Best Large Delegation. Student leader, Jason Bouramia (top center) and Delia Benitez (front right) won Best Delegate Awards, with other awards including Outstanding Delegate Awards, won by Matyas Wagner, Khoi Ngo, Anna Abad and Felicitas Busse, and Honorable Mentions.
In order to participate in the conference, students must have excellent academic performance, and efficient time management skills, as our students have numerous obligations at any given time. Gianvi Figari (IB Spanish Teacher and trip sponsor) says another challenge is also learning how to fail, or at least not being prepared to not win every challenge. He says this experience will prepare them to successfully face challenges and failures in their future. The conference, he says, challenges the students to make a clear and concise argument in 30 seconds or less. Because students at UWC live in an international and culturally diverse community, they took the lead over other schools when it came to knowledge of the countries of the world. The students had fun celebrating their wins by going out for a meal together after the competition.