LT takes first place at 50-school Model UN conference

Lyons Township High School’s Model United Nations Club took first place at the twelfth annual Chicago International Model United Nations (CIMUN) conference. There were more than 50 schools and 1200 student delegates competing. A special congratulation goes to LT’s 19 award winners, including nine Best Delegate honors, eight Outstanding Delegate awards and two Honorable Delegate awards. The countries they represented include Greece, Mexico, and New Zealand.

As one of the nation’s largest independent conferences, CIMUN featured 20 innovative committees divided into either Present Day simulation or Historical Simulation set in 2003 that placed students in key decision-making roles during the formative days of the midst of a time that shaped the modern world. The unique simulation-driven model gives delegates in all committees the opportunity to make world-shaping decisions in real time and requires them to think critically beyond the bounds of any one topic to best represent their national interests.

The conference included challenging scenarios and real life updates to keep the delegates thinking on their feet. Instead of relying only on traditional background guides, the CIMUN materials included primary source materials, samples from the news media and declassified intelligence documents designed to lead delegates to a deeper understanding of the issues that they debated, instead of simply regurgitating facts.

The Model United Nations experience brings to life the problems that face the real world and allows participants to represent their assigned country’s position and work toward resolving issues of global importance. Model United Nations is an authentic simulation of the U.N. General Assembly. A Model U.N. delegate is a student who assumes the role of an ambassador to the United Nations.

Best, Outstanding and Honorable delegates are chosen by the committee chair or a handful of people in the front of the room facilitating the committee. A Delegate’s Choice honor is awarded when everyone in the committee votes for their favorite/most influential delegate.

Best Delegate

Daniel Benson (Senior) - Countryside (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)

Rachel Bielski (Senior) - Western Springs (UN Economic & Social Council)

Charles Convery (Junior) - Western Springs (United Kingdom Cabinet)

Peter Eggerding (Junior) - Western Springs (Organization of American States)

Nicholas Fuentes (Senior) - LaGrange Park (Iran Cabinet)

Cristian Gonzalez (Senior) - Western Springs (European Union)

Thomas Lombardo (Senior) - LaGrange Park (European Union)

Jonathan Remijas, Jr. (Junior) - Western Springs (UN Economic & Social Council)

Brian Zak (Junior) - Western Springs (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)

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Outstanding Delegate

Xander Allison (Freshman) - LaGrange Highlands (World Health Organization)

Siddartha Ariga (Senior) - Willow Springs (General Assembly)

Ripley Cornelison (Senior) - LaGrange Park (US Senate)

Ceili Doyle (Senior) - Willow Springs (Historical General Assembly)

Nathan Egert (Senior) - Burr Ridge (General Assembly)

Michael Gilger (Senior) - Western Springs (Historical General Assembly)

Miles Hession (Sophomore) - Brookfield (World Health Organization)

Dennis Sopic (Senior) - LaGrange (Security Council)

Honorable Mention

Timothy Grider (Senior) - LaGrange Highlands (UN Economic & Social Council)

Pilar Valdes (Freshman) - Countryside (UN Economic & Social Council)