Posted February 10, 2011

Several Devon Prep students earned awards at the recent YMCA Model United Nations Conference in Hershey. As a team, Devon Prep’s 30 participants received the “Outstanding Delegation” Award for meeting all program deadlines and adhering to all program rules.

Devon Prep senior Alex Smith of Audubon was recognized as a Premier First Year Delegate and was also chosen to attend the week-long YMCA Youth Conference on National Affairs (CONA) in North Carolina in July. He received the award for all-around exemplary performance as a leader, statesman and delegate. He was selected to attend CONA because he displayed exemplary skills in diplomacy and performance in debate, was willing to assist fellow delegates and exhibited strong speaking and research skills.

In addition junior Connell White of Havertown was elected Chief Justice of the International Criminal Court for next year’s conference, and junior Ryan Fulmer of Broomall was appointed Chief Editor/Chair of Video Press for the 2012 conference in Hershey.

More than 1,000 high school students from schools in New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania attended this year’s conference. Of those students only 25 delegates and 20 alternates were selected to attend CONA.

Model United Nations is a simulation of the UN General Assembly and other multilateral bodies. In Model UN, students step into the shoes of ambassadors from UN member states to debate current issues on the organization’s agenda. While playing their roles as ambassadors, student “delegates” make speeches, prepare draft resolutions, negotiate with allies and adversaries, resolve conflicts and navigate the Model UN conference rules of procedure.