Students learn diplomacy skills at Duquesne Model UN Conference

Five Fox Chapel Area High School students recently placed at the Duquesne University Model United Nations (UN) Conference. Outstanding Delegation (first-place) awards went to juniors Boomba Nishikawa and Aaron Santilli and sophomore Jackson Romero. Jackson was also recognized as the Best Delegate of the Conference, equivalent to a first-place overall award, and won a $3,000 scholarship to attend Duquesne University. Additionally, the team of senior Tristan McClelland and sophomore Cecilia Rike won an Excellent Delegation award (second-place) at the conference.

The conference was held Jan. 25, 2019, at Duquesne University and 330 students from 21 Western Pennsylvania high schools participated in the event. The purpose of the Model UN conferences is to enable students to role-play and simulate the countries in the United Nations. As a part of the conferences, students debate and try to solve global problems from the perspectives of other countries.