The GPS Model UN team represented China and Israel at a conference in Athens, Ga. Nine girls, including four freshmen, debated and sought compromise on some of the world's largest issues (nuclear weapons in North Korea, the crisis in Mali, peacekeeping in the Gaza Strip, Human Trafficking, the Syrian revolution, etc.).
Senior MaryKate Ryan won the Distinguished Delegate award for her role representing China on the Security Council. Junior Emily You won an award for her position paper in the Social and Humanitarian Committee, also representing China. “I was most impressed with the freshmen and their willingness to engage and debate with the more experienced delegates from other schools,” said faculty sponsor Glen Vey.
This is the second conference this year in which members of the Model UN team have won delegate awards. At the Southern High School Model United Nations Conference in November, senior Becky Gardner was selected as the 2nd best overall delegate and an All-Star, placing her among the top 15 delegates and eligible to attend the National Model UN Conference in March.
Also at SHSMUN, sophomore Najia Humayun was named a Best Delegate, Anjali Chandra received Honorable Mention, and Digital Press Corps co-chairs Nicole Coffey and Elle Thorstenson were cited by their peers for “bringing a level of professionalism to the office.” Meghna Talluri was selected as the Chair for the SOCHUM Committee for next year's conference.
In recognizing the team's successes, GPS Headmaster Randy Tucker said, "It's hard to believe there is a better stage on which to perform if you really want to grow as a citizen and a scholar. Congratulations to the award winners and to all the delegates."