Model UN Team earns honors at virtual conference

Submitted by Jenny Kopf 
The St. Michael Catholic High School Model United Nations (UN) Team competed at the 14th annual University of Alabama Model UN Conference, where the team won the most awards and the conference’s top honor.
A total of 19 Saint Michael students used their laptops and Mac Chromebooks to participate in the first virtual University of Alabama Conference on Feb. 4, competing against delegates from Alabama, Florida, and Georgia, including such Model UN powerhouses as Loveless Academic Magnet Program (LAMP) and James Clemens High School.  This year, the students simulated standard UN committees, including the Special Political Committee and the International Court of Justice, as well as several crisis committees, including the Napoleonic Wars, President Bill Clinton’s Second Administration, and British King James I Privy Council during the Age of Exploration. 
As a result of their research, committee participation, and country representation, the St. Michael students received 10 awards, the most among participating schools.  Jeb Bathrick and Sophie Musselman earned a Position Paper Award for their research and writing skills.  Conner Brown, Judah McAleer and Tradd McDaniel won three of the 10 Best Delegate Awards presented at the conference, the highest individual speaking award.  Phoebe Cisneros earned an Outstanding Delegate Award, the second highest award designation, while Jeb Bathrick, Andrew Corbett,and Lexi Kruse each won an Honorable Mention Award. In addition, the entire team was recognized with the Best Delegation Award, the conference’s highest honor. 
Area middle school and high school students can experience the debating and diplomacy of Model UN in person at the Spring Cardinal’s Model UN Conference from 8:45 a.m.-3 p.m. April 9 at St. Michael. 
— For more information, parents can contact Saint Michael Model UN Advisor Mr. Paul Saboe at [email protected] to obtain the conference background guide and registration information for their children.