Holy Martyrs Armenian High School had the opportunity of participating in the 16th Annual Los Alamitos Model United Nations Security Council Conference on February 21, 2009. This year, students between the eight and eleventh grades represented the nations of Russia, Mexico, and Austria, the both the, “Novice,” and, “Advanced,” committees. The eight and ninth graders, for many whom was their first time participating in Model United Nations, joined students for various other middle and high schools and debated two major international issues in the “Novice” committees: the Gaza Strip conflict, and the Mumbai terrorist attacks of 2008.
Tenth and eleventh grade students, however, joined the “Advanced” committees, and were given an open agenda, meaning that the students had the chance to decide what international issue they wished to discuss. Model UN is an academic simulation of the United Nations, and is an excellent opportunity for students to develop debate, speaking, and research skills, as well as to learn extensively about pressing international issues, conflicts, and controversies.
Ferrahian students have been participating in Model UN conferences for many years now, mainly due to the long and hard work of Miss Hourig Demirjian, Model UN coordinator and advisor, and Ferrahian Book Store Clerk. During the one-day conference, students were able to discuss various issues including Somalian piracy and the North Korean nuclear threat. In the end, students drafted joint resolutions based on the topics they were focusing on, which represented their own countries policies as well as their individual thoughts on the issues.
For many of the eighth and ninth grade students, it was their first time being a part of Model UN and were fortunate enough to have the experience of partaking in the new atmosphere of global politics. But no Model UN conference is complete without an awards ceremony. Students are given awards based on their performance during the conference, for their diplomacy, speaking, and debating skills. Eight graders Garnig Dadain and Shooshig Ginosyan displayed excellent participation and were awarded with a commendation, third place. Let’s hope that they, and all Ferrahian participants will have success in their future endeavors in Model UN.
Congratulations Garni and Shooshig!