Sachem North Hosts Model UN Conference

The next generation of diplomats were on hand at Sachem North this week during their second annual Model United Nations Conference.

More than 100 students from Sachem, Bay Shore, Patchogue-Medford and St. Francis were divided into four United Nations committees – African Union, Arab League, Security Council and General Assembly – to debate topics and bring real world issues into the classroom.

“When you’re in a classroom you’re learning, but when you’re actually part of a conference it’s a whole different new experience,” said Co-Secretary General Dylan Cowit, a senior at Sachem North. “It’s so much more interactive. It’s a great way to get involved with the world, meet new people, and rise up.”

Garima Yadav, also a senior at Sachem and Co-Secretary General, said her communication skills have developed as a direct result of the Model UN experience.

“When I started as a sophomore I hated public speaking,” she said, “now I talk in front of 100 people with no problem.”

Students studied for their committee work prior to the event. Sachem spent a good amount of time preparing for this event, which has become a modern staple in the school district.

“It’s months of planning,” said Kevin Miller, a social studies teacher at Sachem and co-advisor of the Model UN club. “Each student is assigned a country they had to spend time researching.”

“You can’t get more hands on then this,” said Dr. Georgia Afxendiou, a co-advisor at Sachem and social studies teacher. “Instead of a teacher telling them what happened, to be in here and debate, they have to know who the leaders are, who the major players are, on their own. It’s almost like experiential learning. We make it up and create the environment for them.”

Sachem will attend conferences at Patchogue-Medford, Bay Shore and Port Washington later in the school year.