360 East Bay Students Converge For 27th Annual Model UN

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA — Instead of taking part in their schools’ football games, dances or other fun weekend activities, 360 high school students from the East Bay and San Francisco buckled down this past Friday and Saturday, Nov. 3-4, for the 27th annual Contra Costa County Model United Nations Conference. For the two-day event held at Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill, students assumed roles as delegates for 70 countries, discussing and providing workable solutions to many of the world’s biggest challenges.

The Model UN conference enhances high school students’ understanding of the UN and its role in global issues, said Jonathan Lance, a spokesman for the Contra Costa County Office Of Education, which put on the event with the help of Kevin Chan, of Best Delegate, and members of the UC Davis Model UN Club.

"Participating students each represent a nation and negotiate on that country’s behalf," Lance said.

Teams from the following high schools participated in this year’s event: Acalanes High (Lafayette), Athenian High (Danville), Berean Christian (Walnut Creek), California High (San Ramon), Campolindo High (Moraga), Carondelet High (Concord), De La Salle High (Concord), Deer Valley High (Antioch), Dougherty Valley High (San Ramon), Foothill High (Pleasanton), Liberty High (Brentwood), Lycée de Francais San Francisco (San Francisco), Miramonte High (Orinda) and Northgate High (Walnut Creek).

Delegates debated international issues in 10 committees, including Disarmament and International Security Committee (DISEC), Security Council (UNSC), United Nations Women (UN Women), World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). Just some of the topics discussed were: biological and chemical weapons, North Korea, access to clean water and sanitation and children in armed conflict.

San Ramon's California High earned the Outstanding Large Delegation Crystal Gavel Award, while Pleasanton's Foothill High earned the Exceptional Large Delegation Plaque. Orinda's Miramonte High received the Outstanding Small Delegation Crystal Gavel Award, and Moraga's Campolindo High brought home the Exceptional Small Delegation Plaque.

Numerous individual awards were earned, and are listed on CCCOE's Model UN web page.

“We are pleased to see so many high school students throughout our county and the Bay Area take advantage of our Model UN program,” said Contra Costa County Superintendent of Schools Karen Sakata. “Model UN is an excellent opportunity for students to display all the hard work and preparation they have put in, as they successfully discuss, persuade, and work with fellow committee members on real-world problems and complex international relations. The skills they are currently refining with this program will be the same ones they’ll use in college and/or in their future careers.”

According to CCCOE officials, the academic event also offers students an opportunity to gain substantive knowledge about the cultures and policies of the countries they represent. They can learn the mechanisms for peaceful resolution of disputes, while at the same time honing their interpersonal skills. They must practice writing and speaking skills in order to persuade delegates from other attending schools.

Chan reported that the 35 UC Davis Model UN Club volunteers who presided over the Committee Meetings were extremely impressed with their younger brothers and sisters who share a tremendous interest in international affairs.

CCCOE officials say Model UN differs from its other academic-event programs, such as Mock Trial, in that it is not so much a competition as it is an event. Participants are commended for outstanding committee work and certificates are awarded to committee rapporteurs. Individual delegate winners are recognized for their debate skills, leadership skills, knowledge of the issues, and presentation of key resolutions. The event closes with a ceremony that recognizes the outstanding delegates.

Photos credit: Jonathan Lance, CCCOE