Elaine Loft, Staff Writer
Twenty-eight Derryfield students, accompanied by Dean of Academics Ryan Tanner-Read, and Derryfield history teachers Molly Egger and Lily Karlin, attended the Seventy-Second Session of the Harvard Model United Nations from Thursday, January 30 through Sunday, February 2. The conference was held in Boston, and is the oldest, largest, and most prestigious Model United Nations conference of its type, bringing together hundreds of Harvard College students and thousands of high school delegates.
In a letter to delegates ahead of the event, Calvin Osborne, Secretary General of the conference, explained,
“There are a multitude of challenges that face our world today, and, as rising leaders in this ever tumultuous world, it is Harvard Model United Nations’ mission to help prepare our delegates with the skills they need to succeed, from public speaking and substantive research to leadership and diplomacy. In each delegate’s preparation for and participation in the conference, they will learn how to work with others to problem solve and develop solutions for the world’s most pressing and complicated problems.”
Upon returning to school, William Licata ‘28 offered his thoughts, “Model UN was really rewarding in that we got to improve our public speaking, leadership and communication skills while learning more about international relations.”
Ryan Tanner-Read reflected,
“Model United Nations is a great experience for our students to practice their Portrait of a Graduate skills in critical thinking, civil discourse and research. More importantly, though, it is a chance for them to get out in the world and interact with thousands of other high schoolers from across the country and around the world. In this way, it is also a chance for them to build their cultural awareness, make long term friends and just have a good time.”
