Ocean Lakes Model UN (MUN) prepares members to become future global leaders. They exercise public speaking and research skills, all while collaborating with other students to solve problems.
“It allows students to take on the role of a country, and then they join various committees and they research the background of the country’s position in that area,” Model UN sponsor Lisa Gibson said.
The Model UN club aims to simulate the United Nations, where countries are equal, and each has one vote for any resolutions that may occur. The club attends five competitions during the school year, including two MUN conferences, one Euro Debate, one Euro Challenge and one Academic Worldquest, according to Gibson.
These competitions began in November, and end in late April or early May.
“We made it to nationals [at the Euro Challenge] last year, our second year participating,” Gibson said.
The Euro Challenge is a virtual competition that consists of researching economic issues related to the European Union.
The most recent competition the team attended took place in Williamsburg, Va. at The College of William and Mary on October 14, 2024.
Only a select few of students can participate due to the amount of money that goes into the trip, according to Frankie.
“Truthfully, I joined mostly because of how much I liked Gibson and how her teaching inspired me and made me excited to learn,” senior and MUN secretary Ava Sharp said.
The MUN club looks forward to their upcoming competition at the Old Dominion University MUN Conference, where everyone can participate, according to Frankie.
“I am really proud of the growth that I see in students,” Gibson said. “Their research skills improved, their public speaking, their negotiation, their collaboration; all of those things we want to develop in critical thinkers and people who are truly problem solvers.”
