SBS Takes on Model UN Conference

By Communications Fellow Isabella Ventura ‘23

On the morning of February 2, 2023, over a dozen SBS upper school students boarded a plane to Chicago for a 4-day adventure at the Model United Nations Conference. Fourteen hours later, the same students took their seats as foreign diplomats, cabinet members and world leaders ready to tackle historical or present-day global issues. 

Second Baptist School, representing countries ranging from Norway to New Zealand, participated as a delegation of 14 students in the CIMUN. This convention is a prestigious Model UN conference hosted annually at the Palmer House Chicago. 

Students caught a glimpse of today’s international affairs domain. With the opportunity to participate in committees and listen to words of advice from a professional global diplomat at an opening ceremony, students were intrigued. Diverse topics like the Cold War, educational rights and the budding economics of developing nations were proposed to different committees with the goal of drafting resolutions in a manner that would resolve the conflict and ensure global peace. However, with more than 300 high school students involved, delegates can often find themselves challenged by the clash of strong opinions and outspoken peers.

When faced with complex issues such as the establishment of peaceful space use and increasing child labor across the globe, SBS students thrived. The Second Baptist delegation received four individual awards at the distinguished conference, including Best Delegate in the Cabinet of the UK for Josh Collins ‘23, Outstanding Delegate in the African Union for Ellie Veeningan ‘24, Outstanding Delegate in the Cabinet of the Russian Federation for Edward Millard ‘23, and People’s Choice Best Delegate in the UN Environmental Agency for Preston Igo ‘23. This success was not coincidental. Spending hours on research, position paper writing, and even character preparation, SBS students could not have been more informed on the foreign and domestic affairs of the countries they each represented. 

Aside from dominating their committees, students enjoyed the vibrant and chilly city of Chicago during their four-day stay. Led by attending SBS faculty, the group bundled up in their jackets and visited various tourist attractions, such as the Chicago Bean and The Art Institute of Chicago. On the third night, students enjoyed authentic deep-dish pizza at Gino’s East. 

The trip served as excellent exposure to the current and pressing issues that make up today’s ever-changing environment and allowed students opportunities to form tighter connections with their peers. This experience with CIMUN forged bonds, provided unique challenges and valuable lessons, equipping students to make the world a better place.