Knights students stepping into a new world
For the Knights students who attended the recent Ohio Model United Nations (OMUN) weekend in Columbus, the ability to step up and make a productive impact on the world around them just got a whole lot more feasible.
Sixteen students from West Holmes High School attended the largest global education event in Columbus Dec. 9-11, where more than 1,400 students from 41 other Ohio school districts were involved.
OMUN is a three-day global education simulation experience that allows students in grades six through 12 to learn about the complete operations of the United Nations and its role as the world’s largest international peacekeeping and humanitarian organization.
Through the process of role-playing, students become delegates of a selected nation in order to write, present and debate issues affecting the nations and peoples of the world. Additionally, students present culturally based talent, participate in global education contests and debate current issues from the agenda of the United Nations.
“OMUN is an excellent opportunity for students to develop leadership skills, creative and critical thinking, cultural awareness, public speaking, team spirit, and a unique hands on educational opportunity to formally debate and problem solve,” said Lisa Lang, West Holmes OMUN advisor.
West Holmes delegates included Aaron Hughes, Aaron Reining, Alyssa Russell, Anton Krinke, Bruce Smail, Danny Nelson, David Cagle, Hayley Kick, Lindsay Hypes, Mary Sprang, Mia Sigler, Michael Phillips, Ondrej Suk, Raphael Dumke, Rebekah Ciszewski and Sumney Sigler.
Reining was one of 38 to receive an outstanding leadership award and was elected as one of the 2013 council presidents. Mia Sigler received a runner-up award in the Peace Essay Contest.
In addition, West Holmes students were broken up into smaller groups, where they were asked to create scenarios which were aimed at improving the world we live in today.
Team Vanuatu, which included Reining, Ciszewski, Smail and Mia and Sumney Sigler, was honored for passing their resolution, Something Smells Fishy, in council session. The team proposed establishing a global committee to evaluate and regulate fisheries by using eco labels to alert the consumer. Vanuatu also performed a thought provoking myth as to how the sun and moon was formed.
Team Switzerland, which included Russell, Krinke, Nelson, Kick, Hypes and Sprang, was commended on a well planned resolution titled Wiping the World of Weaponry. The team performed a skit titled Nuclear Eradication Treaty, with their showcase consisting of a performance of the tale of William Tell, which included some great costumes borrowed from Chalet in the Valley.
Team Brunei Darussalam, consisting of members Hughes, Cagle, Phillips, Suk and Dumke, created a highly successful piece on a well written resolution for the proposal of implementing an organization that will regulate the amount of carbon footprints emitted in the air from their country to raise the pH level of acidic rain to help neutralize its level on the pH scale while promoting the reduction of carbon footprints emitted into the air. Team Brunei Darussalam also created a cultural percussion ensemble.
The opportunity to expand their minds when it comes to conservation and world peace was a perfect opportunity for the students to push themselves to new heights.
Each student at OMUN participated in either a peace essay contest, world problem solving effort, agenda issues, world citizenship, or current events contest. In addition, Krinke, Cagle, and Sumney Sigler all wrote a letter to a Nigerian student in the I-Open session.
While many of today’s youth are busy gaming and perusing Facebook, this group of West Holmes youth decided to step outside the box, expand their minds, challenge themselves in new ways, and in the process took a step toward much bigger things.