by Joey Derrico

Over the weekend of March 4, Bellbrook High School traveled to Miami University to participate in the 10th annual Model United Nations conference. Model United Nations, or Model UN for short, is an international organization that creates a genuine simulation of the happenings and rules of the real United Nations. Students, or delegates, are assigned to a country where they act as that country’s ambassador to the UN. Furthermore, delegates are also assigned to committees that vary from the issues of poverty to Russian revolutions. Committees may be actual UN bodies or other large, multilateral bodies. The delegates must come together to solve the problems facing the committee by writing resolutions, or else face the real-world implications that result from their decisions.

This year’s conference at Miami University broke the record in terms of attendance. Over 300 students attended representing schools from throughout southwest Ohio. The four committees at the conference were the World Trade Organization, the World Health Organization, the Bolshevik Revolution, and the United States Senate: Spanish-American War. The two-day long conference featured intense debate in all committees as well as collaboration through the writings of resolutions. Bellbrook also brought back numerous awards from the conference. Those winning certificate awards were Maddie Crane, Kasen Stephenson, Kayla Stephenson, Ethan Reigelsperger, and Adam Kent. Rachel Kahler, Abby Schultz, Joey Derrico, and Jack Long all received verbal recognition for their contributions. Bellbrook’s next conference will take place next school year during the fall at the University of Dayton.