For Immediate Release

Thursday, March 24, 2016

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

Melrose High School Students Attend Model UN Conference, Win Outstanding Delegate Awards

MELROSE — High School Principal Marianne Farrell is pleased to announce that the Melrose Model UN club participated in the fourth annual EagleMUNC conference last weekend and won multiple highly coveted awards for their performances.

Twenty student delegates attended the convention, hosted by Boston College at the Westin Copley Place in Boston, from Friday, March 18 to Sunday, March 20.

For 40 consecutive hours, attendees worked as politicians, businessmen and historical leaders to shape the world in real-life simulations. They negotiated ways to avoid wars, stop the spread of communism in America and addressed concerns of liberty and security in the past, present and future. This was done through passing directives, organizing blocks of like-minded representatives and making dozens of speeches throughout the weekend.

Students took on a variety of roles — from the Chief of Counterintelligence in the CIA to the Executive Chairman of Santander Bank — and represented the countries of Argentina, Cameroon, Tunisia and Thailand. Delegates in the historical committees portrayed stakeholders from the Peloponnesian War and the Joint Committee of Un-American Activities. Members of the Model UN club continuously met after school, under the guidance of Gerard Tannetta, MHS social studies teacher and the UN club adviser, for the last few months to prepare for the event.

Along with strong performances from all 20 delegates, MHS had three students win “Outstanding Delegate” awards: Griffin Barriss, representing General Pausanias of Sparta during the Peloponnesian War and Lily Russell and Jenna Santos, who represented a double delegation of Thailand in an Interpol Committee.

These designations are difficult to earn and are given to those who stay true to his or her character while proving to be an integral player in negotiations with other representatives. Barriss’ committee had approximately 25 people and only three students earned awards. Russell and Santos’ group had close to 200 people, with just 14 receiving recognition.

“Congratulations to Griffin, Lily and Jenna for earning their Outstanding Delegate awards,” Principal Farrell said. “All 20 of our high school students deserve recognition for their hard work and top-notch performances last weekend.”

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