Kendra Bolling

Some 40 Charles Henderson Middle School students will have the opportunity to learn about cultural diversity and international relations this week at Troy University.

The students will participate in the Southeast Alabama Model United Nations.

Troy University’s Inservice Center Program Development Specialist Terry White said the program is designed to help student in grades six through eight gain and understanding of the United Nations.

SAMUN allows students to practice public speaking, parliamentary procedure, research and writing skills while incorporating classroom studies of geography, history, world politics and current events, White said.

Middle school participants will represent 38 countries at the SAMUN assembly.

“While we are not able to do everything the way it is done in the U.N., our goal is for students to acquire a better understanding of other nations and a greater identity for all peoples of the world,” White said.

Students from all around south Alabama will take part in this two-day event, which will be held March 5 and 6.

Through the model U.N., students will be required to develop and present their resolution to a committee.

If a resolution is lucky enough to pass, students will then present it to the general assembly.

As part of making the experience more bona fide, students dress in the clothing of the country they represent, prepare an introduction in the country’s official language and even design the flag of the country.

Another key component of the program is during the assembly; students are presented with a world crisis.

During this crisis, a model Security Council presides and the delegations are divided into “block nations” as students work to find a solution to the crisis.

According to Paul Gilbert, teacher and organizer for the students attending model U.N., the Middle School has been sending students to this program for about 10 years.

Gilbert said Model U.N. usually tends to be the favorite memory for students at the middle school.

“When we ask high schoolers what their favorite memory from middle school is, it is usually the United Nations,” Gilbert said.

Charles Henderson Middle School students attending model U.N. are: seventh graders Nikki Stephens, Taylor Adams, Jacob Bensinger, Courtney Bobo, Katherine Bullock, Lauren Crosby, Keyousha Foster, Autumn Gilmore, Kolt Goodson, Winnecka Grubbs, Trace Jackson, Jordan Jacques, John Johnson, Jeffrey Jordan, Hunter Kennedy, Jessica Large, Aidan McNellis, Kait Ross and Thomas Woodham.

Eighth graders participating in the program are Lisa Baugh, Madison Carpenter, Alexis Carter, Kayla Causley, McNeill Dobson, Caitlin Edenfield, Alli Ellis, Robby Elmore, Mallory Franklin, Becca Hartley, Olivia Hudson, Nik Knighten, Kayla LaBlue, Brantley LeCroy, Abby Linton, Scott McLendon, Roxanna Nokes, Danyelle Powell, Asiah Reeves, Robert Salmon, Noelle Smolcic, Bobby Sharp and Jessica Wilkes.