The Model United Nations (Model UN) Club at Lakewood High School offers students a valuable opportunity to engage with global issues and experience debate by attending annual conferences at either Case Western or Lorain County Community College.
The club begins meeting at the start of the school year to prepare for the conference. Students choose a nation to represent and select a topic related to real-world global challenges, such as human rights, economic development or international security. This process teaches students to understand different perspectives and represent viewpoints that may differ from their own.
At a Model UN conference, the primary goal is to “collaborate with other delegations to pass a resolution paper which essentially proposes solutions to the issue,” said Lauren Kiszewski, the Model UN advisor for Lakewood High School.
Students are required to wear business attire at the conference, which helps prepare them for future professional environments. Dressing professionally encourages students to take the experience seriously and gain confidence in formal settings — an essential skill they will need beyond high school.
On Dec. 10 and 11, Model UN attended a conference at Lorain County Community College. For this event, “every student represents a country, and they are debating a specific topic,” said Kiszewski.
Preparation began on Sept. 9, with members researching their country’s position and policies on the assigned topic. This research process helps students build strong arguments and understand the importance of accurate and credible information.
The conference opens with statements welcoming all schools. Delegations are then assigned to a committee based on their debate topic. Within each committee, delegations vote on whether to discuss Topic A or B. Throughout the conference, every delegation has the opportunity to speak, ask questions, and respond to other countries’ positions in a respectful discussion. The goal is for each committee to reach a resolution that most or all delegations agree upon.
Since the conference lasts two days, delegations can spend the second day debating the same topic if a resolution is not reached on the first day. If a resolution is reached, they move on to debate the unchosen topic on the second day. Halfway through the day, each committee has a scheduled lunch period, allowing students to take a break and socialize before returning to debate. The conference concludes with closing statements from the institution and recognition of award recipients.
Lakewood’s Model UN team is notably student-run. Abigail Kovach, one of the presidents, said the club is unique because “it’s been a strictly student-run organization with just a teacher as an advisor to do the official paperwork.” This structure gives students opportunities to build independence and leadership skills.
“While the teachers and advisors have the information and everything they need to know about the club, it is still the students and the leadership that take that primary role in teaching and getting the kids ready for conference,” Kovach said.
In the future, the team hopes to continue strengthening members’ confidence and leadership skills. One of the club’s main goals is “bolstering everybody’s confidence, so they can take charge in future conferences,” said Maya Trempe, another of Lakewood’s Model UN presidents. The club is now preparing for its next conference in February, where members will apply their knowledge and grow more comfortable speaking and leading during debate.
Model UN is an important organization at Lakewood because it teaches students how to use their voice and express their opinions. It is also a great way for students to experience public speaking, a skill necessary for their futures in both academics and professional life.
