CHS Students Attend Yale Model United Nations

BY SHIAN EARLINGTON
This year, students who participate in the Canton High School Model United Nations Club, attended Model United Nations, a four-day international relations simulation for high school student, held at Yale University in New Haven. This annual event took place this year from Thursday, Jan. 18 through Saturday, Jan. 20..
The Canton High School Model UN has been run by Social Studies Department Chair, Nora Mocarski for eleven years and began with ten students. This year, over 40 students ranging from sophomores to seniors engaged in three days of intense committee sessions on the overnight trip. Chaperones Ms. Mocarski, Mathew Brintle, Kristy Kehoss, and Lindsay Barth as well as all students slept over at New Haven Hotel.    
The Model United Nations at Yale is an excellent occasion for high school students to exercise their knowledge of parliamentary procedure, collaborate with other peers from around the world, and solve pressing world issues.  
“The trip was a great opportunity that I was privileged to go on,” says senior student Evan Mingo, a four-year attendee. Mingo represented the National Assembly of Pakistan, playing the role of Shahid Khaqan Abbasi. “It went extremely well, even better than I anticipated. The topics were relevant and insightful, allowing me to take away that there is often no right answer when dealing with problems.”    
Throughout his high school career, Mingo has been dedicated to Model United Nations and the impact it leaves on students. He has also volunteered in the entire 10th grade International Studies class’ simulation held at the Canton Community Center serving as their chair as well as the 7th grade Model United Nations simulation held at Canton library too.
The first day at this international conference consisted of opening ceremonies held at the exquisite Woolsey Hall. There, the room was filled with students, parents, and teacher chaperones from all inhabitable places in the world. The scope of participants makes Yale stand out as a place that encourages diversity in all capacities. After the opening ceremonies were over, committee sessions followed throughout the weekend.  
This year, after sessions were completed, Senior Clark Walburger was notified that he was awarded the “Best Delegate” in the Historical Security Council, a specialized committee, acting as the USSR. Clark debated the 1883 German colonization of present-day Namibia as well as the conflicts in Sri Lanka in the 1980s.
Being given the opportunity to engage in such complex activities during Model United Nations, allows Canton High School students to broaden their horizon, see other perspectives, and gain new insights about the world they live in.