Sheridan High School’s Model United Nations team has continued to progress as the school year goes on. The team meets every Friday morning at 7:30 am to plan for upcoming competitions and events. During the meetings, the group also talks about how to improve their research and how to conduct their debates. MUN recently came back from competitions and conferences in Boulder Colorado and Jackson. Later in the year, they will travel to New York to visit the nation’s actual United Nations building. During this trip students will also compete in New York and hear former President Bill Clinton make an opening speech. The club is sponsored by Kaitlin Daugard and Genie Hall. 

   One main point of view that MUN has adopted is that there is an entire world out there that needs to be thought of. Students participate in writing papers, creating solutions for global problems, and debating about other countries’ governments with students from different states and school districts. 

   “It forces students to look at the world from a more global perspective,” says senior Claire Schnatterbeck. The competitions are set up with a panel of judges that listen to essays and hear the possible solutions students provide during discussions. Many of these competitions are coordinated by college students from local areas, most of whom were high school MUN members themselves.

   Additionally, MUN helps students gain a better understanding of other countries and the problems other places face. It also allows students to practice skills they might need for future classes or for their permanent careers, such as speaking skills or writing college style essays. 

   “MUN does help practice civil discourse because it opens people’s minds up and doesn’t have a narrow channel mindset,” says senior member Jackson Gould, “It also helps students practice public speaking skills outside of English classes.”

   Multiple weeks and hours are spent after school writing essays and researching, according to most MUN members. Students are also put on councils that focus on different aspects of different countries they are studying. 

   “MUN benefits students because it is one of the only academic clubs in the school that teaches diplomacy and other skills,” says Schnatterbeck. MUN can also carry over into college clubs like college level Model UN, government clubs, and also help students who are thinking about pursuing global studies. Being in MUN is a benefit when it comes to college applications. MUN can be another source of work that a student can cite as an example when applying for different schools. 

   Most members get along very well, considering they share the interest in exploring other countries and researching possible ways to make the world better. “The team continues to grow along with the ideas and problem solving skills that are incorporated into the club. Showing the impact students words can make on the world increases MUN’s plans to continue. MUN is still trying to notify students about the possibilities that are available to them through this club.

   “It’s really fun; we all have fun on the trips, and you learn so much about different countries,” said Daugard.