About 200 middle school students from southeast Alabama were talking global issues and culture as part of the Southeast Alabama Model United Nations Assembly at Troy University this week.

Among the students were 48 seventh- and eighth-graders from Charles Henderson Middle School in Troy.

“This offers the kids the opportunity to study and research other nations and become aware of world issues, and to participate in the process of diplomacy,” said Trent Givens, sponsor of the eighth-grade students from CHMS.

During the two-day event, students represented 31 delegations as they dressed in native costumes, debates and worked on resolutions.

CHMS students took home several awards at the Assembly. Adam Bensinger was named Second Alternate Outstanding Male Delegate; Soobin Park was honored as the First Alternate Outstanding Female Delegate; Vanuatu representatives won Third Alternate Outstanding Native Dress for the Latin American and Island Nation Block; Djibouti delegates won First Alternate Outstanding Native Dress in the African Union Block; and Republic of Georgia representatives took home honors for Most Outstanding Native Dress for the European Block, Second Alternate for Outstanding Native Dress Overall and Second Alternate for Most Outstanding Delegation.

“I could not be more proud of these kids,” Givens said, adding that they’ve been working most of the school year on learning about the countries they represented at the Model UN Assembly.