Model UN after placing second at the Academic World Quest on Nov. 23, 2023. Front row: senior Sam Kidd, sophomore Sarah Arib and freshman Cole Graninger. Back row: sophomore Grace Kavanaugh, freshman Andrew Koivu, freshman Frankie Graninger and junior Charles Wight. Photo used with permission from Lisa Gibson.

On Nov. 30, 2023, at the Norfolk Yacht and Country Club, Model UN set to compete in the Academic World Quest competition (AWQ).

Six student teams competed in a trivia competition, in which students answered questions involving the categories of international current events, world leaders, geography and foreign policy history.

“Our team is hard at work preparing for the competition right now,” said sophomore Grace Kavanaugh.

The winners of the regional competition advanced to nationals in Washington D.C.

“The academic world quest is important because it helps showcase the knowledge our members possess of the world,” said junior Ava Sharp.

The club meets during One Lunch in sponsor Lisa Gibson’s room to review key terms, leaders and other potential topics.

“To prepare, our AWQ team has been learning about world leaders, reading the international news and playing lots of current trivia games,” said Gibson.

In addition, some of the Model UN (MUN) team members are Saturday scholars, who attend World Affairs Council events like the Great Decisions Series where they meet with former ambassadors and military leaders from around the world.

The next competition MUN will be partaking in is the annual ODU conference held in Norfolk, Va. in February.