—via Marian High School—

Marian senior Alie Farrand earned the award for “Outstanding Delegate” in her committee at this year’s North American Invitational Model United Nations conference. The honor was the culmination of countless hours of preparation and practice by Alie and her Marian team mates.

Since the beginning of the school year, Marian’s Model United Nations team has been working diligently to prepare delegates for local simulations and for its national conference. MUN is a competitive team that simulates real life United Nations debates on pressing global issues affecting our international society. Participants in MUN draft resolution and position papers then deliver them orally for the other delegates and the judges. Through competing in local simulations with students from other schools in the area, delegates develop critical writing, speech, and debate skills that prepare them to compete on a national level.

Marian’s top MUN delegates went on to participate in the North American Invitational Model United Nations (NAIMUN) simulation, hosted by Georgetown University in Washington DC. Each year, NAIMUN promotes new and innovative philanthropy efforts, while educating delegates on pressing world issues. Over three thousand high school students from 22 states and 27 countries, including Egypt, Bahrain, Lebanon, and China convened for NAIMUN 2012.

Team members that represented Marian High School at the conference were:

• Rachel Kazanji ’12
• Grace Lutfy ’12
• Alie Farrand ’12
• Megan Higdon ’12
• Brooke Baker ’12
• Crystal Zair ’12
• Christa Akkary ’12
• Sandra Oska ’13
• Kristen Hawes ’13
• Hannah Burns ’13
• Candice Zair ’13
• Catherine Yaldoo ’14

Social and, humanitarian issues, international press and media regulations, the Arab crisis, and the Warsaw Pact of 1985 were all topics debated in various committees at NAIMUN. Students debated vigorously within special committee sessions that ran late into the night.

Senior Christa Akkary reflected, “My experience with MUN has helped me build many important leadership skills that I will have for the rest of my life. Model UN has opened doors for me as an individual, inspiring me in my future endeavors.”