By Cami Colarossi, NDP Communications Director
For the 27 Notre Dame Preparatory School students who attended the 2024 Model UN Conference in Hershey, Pennsylvania, earlier this month, the world just got a little smaller and their global perspectives much bigger.
Sponsored by YMCA Civic Engagement, the Model UN Conference engages high school students in activities mirroring the work of United Nations Committees, including researching global issues, collaborating on committee work, and writing and presenting resolutions on economic, environmental, security, humanitarian, and health topics and more. Notre Dame Prep was one of the 15 participant schools from along the East Coast which sent more than 1,000 students.
In preparation for the two-day conference, NDP students were assigned a country from among the UN’s member nations and researched how those countries would address a host of issues ranging from Artificial Intelligence and biodiversity to Ukrainian refugee status and food security to wealth inequality and more. Working in committees, the students drew upon their skills in public speaking, debate, written communication, and collaboration—all essential for success in high school, college, career, and beyond. Whether they represented Germany, the South Sudan, or Turkmenistan, the students were exposed to the world’s interconnectivity and the impact that research, collaboration, and policymaking have on the global stage.
“I have been part of the environment and technology committee for the past four years. I've had the opportunity to represent a number of different countries with varying perspectives, values, and national priorities,” explains Reilly White ‘24. “[Model UN] has helped me become more familiar with world issues and truly understand the complexities that go into international debate and policy.”
Now considered a school “academic tradition,” Notre Dame Prep has participated in the Model UN for the past eight years, and in each of those years, the students have received “Outstanding Delegation” honors. In addition, Emily O’Toole ’27 was named an “Outstanding First-Year Delegate” this year.
According to Barbara Mantler, social studies teacher and Model UN moderator, the students’ involvement gives her hope for the future and for the next generation of world leaders. “[Our students] leave this conference thinking the future isn’t made yet, and if smart people work together, the future can be brighter.”
