MRHS Model UN Wins Outstanding Premier Delegation Award
At the 48th Annual YMCA Model United Nations Conference held at the Hershey Lodge and Convention Center, the Marlboro High School Delegation won the following awards and elected positions out of a conference of over 1,800 students.
The YMCA Model UN Program (Y-MUN) is a unique Model UN experience that serves more than 2,000 young people annually across the Mid-Atlantic United States (spanning from the New York to DC metro areas). The conference is youth-driven due to its planning and execution by high school students for high school students, providing an unprecedented simulation of the UN that highlights the themes of collaboration, cultural understanding, and problem-solving that are at the core of the organization’s real-life goals. The organization helps students develop their debate skills and find their voice, but in a one-of-a-kind conference, that brings together servant leadership, public speaking, and global problem solving rather than a singular emphasis on the debate. The mission is simple – build the global leaders of tomorrow, today.
Marlboro High School received the Outstanding Premier Delegation Award. The Outstanding Premier Delegation is an award given to the best high school delegation selected amongst all 62 high schools in attendance during the Youth Model United Nations Conference. This award’s criteria encompasses the 5-month preparation period for all the delegates (students) within a school’s delegation and the due diligence of delegates in fulfilling due dates, preparation and active participation throughout the Y-MUN conference event.
Marlboro’s advisor, Dr. Richard Malik, received the Premier Advisor Gail C. Jochen Award which is given to the most influential YMCA Model UN advisor for the year. Advisors often play a big yet subtle role in guiding students on their journey to the Y-MUN Conference. This award’s criteria encompass an advisor’s commitment to the Model UN. This award is given to one person at the conference each year who best represents the core values of the YMCA as well as their contribution to delegation growth in participation throughout the year. Marlboro High School’s delegation has grown by 223% over the last two years and has a current membership of 90 students evenly distributed from grades 9-12.
Senior David Buneta was selected as Delegate to the Y-MUN Council on National Affairs (CONA). CONA, the highest level of the Model UN program, is a week-long event in which state-run YMCA communities from all across the nation come together in North Carolina to debate national issues plaguing the country. This conference is unique in that the only way to participate, is to be chosen by representatives of the YMCA. A Delegate position is awarded because of their qualifications to represent their respective YMCA community.
Senior Samil Jain received the Premier Diplomat of Non-Governmental Forum Award and was also selected as Delegate to the Y-MUN Council on National Affairs (CONA). The Premier Diplomat is a title given to the most prominent and well-spoken delegate within a single committee that worked on embodying the four core values of the YMCA: honesty, caring, respect, and responsibility. The number of years attended does not determine the eligibility for receiving this reward. The committee chair and college advisor narrow down the candidates receiving this award down to three people. After that, the committee will vote on their top choice via a ballot system.
Junior Alexis Bonilla received the Premier Diplomat of Group of Twenty Award and was elected Committee Chair of the Y-MUN Group of Twenty committee. Committee Chair/Y-MUN Officer is a position that heads an entire committee varying in size from 20-100 delegates, that decides upon the agenda and committee topics to talk about during the MUN conference. This position is also meant to work to further the agenda of the Secretary-General with fellow officer members. To acquire such a position, an election takes place, where delegates volunteer via an application to give a speech during their committee. The speech given is meant to encompass why one should be a part of the YMCA MUN Officer Corp., and through a ballot system, the committee in which a delegate is running for, votes upon the top three candidates that they believe are most qualified. The winner is then announced during the closing ceremony and will work for an entire year from March 2019 to January 2020 on setting up next year’s conference.
Junior Stephanie Fauder was Elected Committee Chair and Y-MUN Officer of the Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural Committee.
Junior Joshua Finkelstein received the Outstanding Country Research Paper of Political & Security B Award. This is awarded to the delegate that wrote the most informational and innovative country research paper in their respective committee. Delegates spend about a month’s worth of time writing these documents that are meant to inform their committee chairs on how informed they are on their country as well as their committee topics. Committee chairs spend the entirety of December and the days leading up to conference reading every single CRP, often ranging from 20-100 submitted assignments, and then picking one.
Junior Julia Hetzko received the Outstanding Country Research Paper of Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural C Award.
Junior Sanskriti Gupta received the Premier First Year Diplomat of Environment and Technology B Award. This award is presented to one prominent and well-spoken delegate in each committee that is attending the Model United Nations conference for the first time. Preparation is vital in receiving this award, as committee chairs and college advisors are looking out for first-year delegates that speak well and encourage others.
Senior Nishi Patel received the Outstanding Country Research Paper of Middle Eastern North African Summit, Y-MUN CONA Alternate.
Freshman Annalise Wu won the Premier First Year Diplomat of Asia Pacific Summit. This is an award presented to one prominent and well-spoken delegate in each committee that is attending the Model United Nations conference for the first time. Preparation is vital in receiving this award, as committee chairs and college advisors are looking out for first-year delegates that speak well and encourage others.
J.F received the Outstanding Country, China, of Environmental and Technology A Research Paper Award.
A.M. received the Premier First Year Diplomat of Council of Economic Advancement B Award.