Local middle school students join model UN event at JCU

Students from Roxboro and Monticello middle schools participated in a U.N. simulation at John Carroll University in January.

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More than 60 students from Roxboro and Monticello middle schools attended a two-day United Nations simulation at John Carroll University in January. The Cleveland Council on World Affairs (CCWA) organized the event, in which Roxboro finished first in the large school division and both schools brought home certificates of recognition and awards.

For its first-place finish, Roxboro will receive an engraved cup at CCWA’s annual meeting in June. Monticello Middle School finished second in the smaller school division.

The delegates worked hard to prepare for the simulation, researching and completing a country profile, as well as developing a position paper on specific topics for delegates to use in committee sessions. With help from teachers Deborah Frost, Janet Lechleitner, John Powaski and Anthony Provenzale, CH-UH students joined more than 200 students, from nine middle schools, to represent 47 countries.

To open the simulation, students heard a speech on life in Kosovo from Syart Dema, an exchange student from Kosovo. Delegates met in morning and afternoon workshops to make and hear speeches, exchange ideas, debate issues, and contribute to resolutions that would express their collected ideas and opinions. Discussions topics included the situation in Syria, human trafficking, climate change, and the illegal arms trade.

The following is a list of Heights students who participated in the event.

From Roxboro, representing Costa Rica: Sylvie Crowell, Angel Goodluck, Natalie Noble, Julia O’Donnell, Nijia Robinson, Madison Sanders, Madalyn Shelt and Jessie Titas; Guatemala: Veronica Gross, Alissa Hallisy, Caroline Imka and Lila Schubert; Madagascar: Isabel Baker-Smith, Derek Black, Noah Frazier, Rhyon Qawwee, Lili Roosa and Donovan Veccia; Pakistan: Peter Bambakidis, Ryen Briscoe-Reynolds, Rohan Bruce, Alex Grim, Charlie King and Luisa Soreo; Republic of Korea (South): Callista Pierce, Elena Rinaldi, Sylvia Snow-Rackley, Rajani Tabor and Anna Turner; Sierra Leone: Georgie Jolivette, Abra Lisowski, Fiona Macke, Noah Ndyajunwoha, Brynn Pierce, Eva Spencer, Marissa Veccia and Elijah Weisblat; Ukraine: Sydney Ball, Jesse Gross, Nathan Keller, Jonah May and Beatrice Woodside.

From Monticello, representing Kenya: Leela Rajeswaran, Adele Dooner, Lillyanna Prech and Gerriah Shazor; Iraq: Mario Johnson, Alex Penn, Chandler Rowell and Chayla Barnes; Iran: Patrick Dooner, Josh Wendorf, Leo Kenealy, Zoe Burns and Maple Bueshcher; Bulgaria: Suvedini Ainkaran, Emily Cassady, Maria Tarnay, Miranda Wyse and Rhiannon Kuntz; Ghana: Meridith Vandall, Abigael Lynette, Dorothea Prech and Aleysia Brooks; Chile: Nareus Hardin.

Following the committee sessions, each of the committee chairs, assistant chairs and the Model U.N. representative evaluated the delegations based on their knowledge of the topics and their country, participation in the debates, resolution writing, and consistent role-play as country ambassadors. Congratulations to CH-UH students for “bringing home the gold.”