Model United Nations makes its mark

After many years with limited government-related extracurriculars, Park students have stepped up and started a new program involving diplomacy and international relations.

After participating in the Youth in Government program this past fall, club leader and senior Amira Abdirahman said Model United Nations (Model UN) is a great chance for students to explore current issues involving various countries.

“Model United Nations is an opportunity for students all across the state to get together and be diplomats for a country of their choosing and represent a country on issues impacting our globe that affects us as citizens,” Abdirahman said.

Club advisor Emma Engebretson said that the introduction and execution of Model UN at Park was led by students.

“It was mainly student driven,” Engebretson said. “During first semester, Park had Youth In Government (YIG) but Amira (Abdirahman) had said she wanted to start YIG for second semester and then keep going with Model UN, because YIG is in the fall and Model UN is in the spring.”

According to Abdirahman, Model UN is a continuation of Youth In Government because of the positive feedback the program gained from members in the fall.

“Sebastian and Isaac (the other club leaders) talked about wanting to start YIG originally,” Abdirahman said. “We saw an opportunity to get Model UN going too because we saw so much success gained from Youth In Government.”