Bloomington High School North’s Model United Nations team was awarded Best Small Delegation at The College of William & Mary 39th High School Model United Nations Conference (WMHSMUN) held November 15-17 in Williamsburg, Virginia. Bloomington North students Cassidy Dong and Iris Jones also represented the Monroe County Community School Corporation (MCCSC) at the conference and were awarded Best Delegate.
Since its inception in 1985, the WMHSMUN Conference has been continuously recognized as one of the best Model United Nations conferences for high schoolers in the nation by Best Delegate and All-American MUN.
Social studies and history teacher Christopher Blackburn credits the success of the Model UN team to strong student leadership.
“BHSN’s Model UN Team is truly a student led organization, from coordinating voting for leadership positions to preparing for the various Model UN conferences,” said Blackburn. “To prepare for Model UN conferences, our student leaders develop mock committees in school to help students navigate the challenges of parliamentary procedure, as well as providing tutorials in writing position papers.”
Student Adela Krenz said the conference was a milestone in the team’s growth.
“William & Mary was an amazing experience! Even if we all compete individually in our committees, the culture we build as a club and as a team has an undeniable impact on our personal performances,” said Krenz. “I’ve watched the club grow from a small group attending the Zoom William & Mary in 2021 to what we are now, and receiving Outstanding Small Delegation this year really shows how far we’ve come. We’ll use this as motivation to take on new challenges and to continue leaving our mark as a delegation at future conferences!”
Iris Jones shared the Model UN team’s impact on her professionally.
“Being an active member of the BHSN Model UN club has not only helped shape my high school experience thus far, but has also made me a more confident and well-spoken person,” said Jones. “I have always enjoyed public speaking and discussions on diplomacy, and Model UN has given me an outlet to express that side of my personality. I experienced great excitement and learned a lot at our most recent conference, WMHSMUN, and I met friends from all over the country who shared my interests. I was able to win the Best Delegate award for my committee at this conference, which felt like a true result of my efforts in preparation as well as my enjoyment of the activity.”
Cassidy Dong said the trip was a special opportunity and a great bonding experience.
“It was amazing to see how we all bonded over late night dinner and ice cream in colonial Williamsburg, shuttle rides to and from our committees to our hotels featuring artists like Sabrina Carpenter maybe a little too early in the morning, and of course honing our skills of diplomacy within our committees,” said Dong. “My committee, The Hunt for Red October Joint Crisis Committee, was fast paced and so fun and I couldn’t have asked for a better experience.”
Blackburn said that each year, students benefit from previous students’ work to keep the Model UN team moving forward.
“Each year, the new student leadership builds on the work of their predecessors, and I am fortunate to work with so many incredible students who put the continuity of our organization as their number one priority to ensure our ongoing successes,” said Blackburn.
