NHS students represent the United Kingdom at Model United Nations

Five Newton Senior High School students, — Jackson Forck, Tyler Thongvanh, Drake Rhone, Drew Lamb, and Daniel Maurer — participated in the Iowa Model United Nations on the University of Northern Iowa campus Thursday and Friday, April 18 and 19.

It was the first time that NHS sent a team to the competition, although several NHS students joined an Ankeny High School team sponsored by advisor John Cannon a few years ago.

The NHS Model U. N. Team helped draft and adopt resolutions on topics of international importance during the Model U.N. proceedings; all the while furthering the interests of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Each of the students served on a different committee: Thongvanh on Security Council, Rhone on Political and Security, Forck on Disarmament, Lamb on Economic and Social Council and Maurer on International Court of Justice.

In addition to the students who attended the conference, both Britney Samuelson and Samantha Schwarz initiated NHS’s involvement in the conference and wrote position papers that helped clarify the United Kingdom’s position on Sexual Trafficking (Samuelson) and Ethics of Biotechnology (Schwarz).

“Model United Nations brings together students interested in world affairs and gives them an opportunity to understand problems in today’s world so that they can help solve tomorrow’s problems,” Forck said. “I learned so much at the conference that I think two days of Model United Nations equals more than a week at school!”

Senior Daniel Maurer received an Outstanding Participant award for his efforts in arguing a case against international whaling in the International Court of Justice. Senior Britney Samuelson received an Excellence in Writing Award for her outstanding position paper on Sexual Trafficking. NHS teacher Margaret Caldwell serves as the MUN sponsor.