Model UN holds its place as one of the biggest clubs at Pleasant Valley High School. With over 45 regular members, the club also boasts one of the largest high school MUN programs in the state of Iowa. Over the course of the year, the club competes in multiple conferences and maintains a strong record of winning multiple Best Delegate Awards.
The club meets every Friday morning in the library. “We will start off the meeting with information that will get us prepared for the upcoming events we are participating in, then end the meeting with a game,” shared MUN vice president and senior Justin Lim. The structure helps balance practice with fun.
According to club leadership, the main goal of MUN is to give students an experience of debating against other students while learning about real-world affairs.
Model UN itself is a highly recognized organization and activity that has participation across colleges and universities in America. Every year, thousands of students participate in simulations to learn more about the principles of the United Nations and law. Many current world leaders and lawmakers have experience in Model UN at either the high school or collegiate level.
The club offers preparation in many skills that help students in the real world. “Model UN teaches students critical thinking, respect, and confidence. During times of polarization, Model UN urges students to learn how to engage in a formal debate and respectfully disagree with others,” continued Lim.
At Pleasant Valley, the MUN club participates in two main conferences and also hosts an annual International Night as a fundraiser.
International Night, held in early December, serves as a fundraiser for the club celebrating global cultures within the school community. Members have stands representing different countries and bring food and games to enjoy the night.
For the last three years, the club has attended the Iowa Youth Symposium, and this year, Asmita Bag won Outstanding Delegate. The club also competes at the annual Iowa High School Model UN conference at UNI. Past winners of Best Delegate include Ryan Pottratz, Andres Bravo Garza, Alika Cho, and Kiera Johnson.
The process of the competition and winning is a gratifying experience. “I really enjoyed winning Best Delegate last year,” said freshman University of Iowa student and former MUN vice president Ryan Pottratz, “It was nice to see how my efforts in preparation paid off during the conference. Additionally, my learning throughout the year with the club really helped me have refined thoughts throughout the conference which helped me win.”
MUN’s growth and success reflect student interests in international relations and debate. With regular Friday morning meetings dedicated to preparation, Pleasant Valley’s MUN program stays committed to its high caliber performance at conferences.
