Santa Margarita Catholic High School Hosts Largest One-day Model UN Conference

Nearly 1,300 students from 20 different high schools attended the South Orange County Model United Nations Conference (SOCOMUN) on Saturday, Sept. 27. The SOCOMUN conference is the largest one-day MUN conference in the world. Students from all over Southern California attended.

The event was organized by SMCHS juniors Lillie Lustig (Coto de Caza) and Caroline Guirgis (North Tustin). SOCOMUN is a chance for high school students to learn about the Model United Nations Program, which simulates the workings of the United Nations. On Sept. 16, the 69th session of the real United Nation’s General Assembly convened in New York. As the real UN went back to business, so did student delegates at SMCHS.

“The SOCOMUN conference is unique in that it is a training conference,” said John Remmell, Santa Margarita’s Catholic High School’s MUN advisor. “The conference starts off with instructions and explanations and then lets students give it a try in a safe atmosphere.”

High school students serve as delegates discussing global issues such as state-sponsored terrorism, HIV/AIDs, drug control, deforestation, and child labor.

“Our kids have learned so much in a very short time thanks to the well run committees they found at Santa Margarita.” said Peter Arango of Cate School.

Students involved in Santa Margarita’s MUN program will also have the opportunity to travel worldwide for MUN conferences. This year, Santa Margarita students will attend the Royal Russell Conference in London and the BEIMUN in Beijing.