Pacific Ridge School Model United Nations Excels

Pacific Ridge School’s Model United Nations participants have found success in their first two conferences of the season.

Eighteen Pacific Ridge students joined more than 500 delegates from across the world at the Stanford Model United Nations Conference November 15-17.  

The Stanford Model UN conference highlights creativity and diplomatic skills, with committees ranging from historical (e.g. Jewish-Roman War, Kennedy-Nixon 1960 Campaign), to current issues (e.g. disarming Syria, North Korea threat).

Pacific Ridge junior Matty Bernstein and sophomore Lauren Lipman were recognized as “Distinguished Delegates” for their work on the European Union Committee, while junior Megan Chang-Haines received the same distinction as a member of the 1960 Nixon Campaign Committee.

Additionally, sophomores Caitlin Bowen (World Health Organization) and Tony Oliverio (Disarmament and International Security Committee) received “Verbal Commendations” for their participation.

At the Tustin Model United Nations Conference, November 23-24, more than half of Pacific Ridge’s eleven attending delegates earned awards.

Freshman Jonah Gercke and junior Lili Muskal both took home Outstanding Delegate awards -  Gerke, for his work on the Social, Cultural, Humanitarian Affairs Committee and Muskal for her work on the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women.

Freshman Elena Scott won Best Research for a paper she wrote as part of the Sixth Legal committee regarding extradition and cyber-terrorism, and freshman Borhan Rafiq, part of the International Labor Organization committee, won Best Research and a Commendation.

Anderson Lee and Charlie Olafsson, both freshmen, were awarded commendations for their work on the Disarmament and International Security Committee and the Special Political and Decolonization Committee respectively.   

Model United Nations has been a popular club activity for students at Pacific Ridge School since its opening in 2007. The program’s focus on world diplomacy supports the school’s mission of academic excellence, ethical responsibility and global engagement.