MUN achieves successes at Harvard, Huntington; debates at University of California, Berkeley

By Ashley Cohen
Staff Writer

Advanced delegates of the Mira Costa Model United Nations program had recent success at the Advanced Harvard Model United Nations conference and the Surf City XII conference in Huntington Beach.

Currently, they are debating at the University of California at Berkeley while also preparing for the MUN Nationals in New York City.

Eighty Costa MUN sophomores, juniors, and seniors debated at the Surf City XII conference in Huntington Beach on Jan. 30-31. The Costa program received Best Large Delegation award, and many students received individual Commendations, Outstanding, and Best Delegate awards in their committees.

“We were prepared to do our best, and the outcome of the conference showed how hard everyone worked,” senior Nicki Durazo said.

During the same weekend, 28 sophomores, juniors and seniors participated in a three-day debate at the Harvard MUN Conference. Although Costa did not receive an overall school award, students in 15 out of 18 committees received individual awards.

“No matter the outcome of the debate, each conference is a success for the MUN program,” senior Kaleo Kinimaka-Ahkoi said. “Having that knowledge means more to us than any award.”

Advisors Robert Timberlake and Wayne Knutson took 45 sophomore junior, and senior advanced students this weekend to a Model United Nations Conference at Berkeley where they are debating in 20 different committees until Sunday. According to Timberlake, this conference serves as the unofficial championships of the west coast.

“We’ve had a very successful year so far, and I think that our students are going to do very well at Berkeley,” Timberlake said.

Fourty sophomore, junior and senior advanced MUN students are currently preparing to debate at the National High School Model U.N. Conference in New York from March 4-7. The debate takes place in the United Nations building where the students will be debating in 18 total committees.

“The fact that we’re taking different groups of students to debate shows the depth in our ability,” Timberlake said.