HAFTR grabs Model U.N. awards

A trio of Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns and Rockaway High School earned recognition at the Yeshiva University National Model United Nations Stamford, Conn., March 13 to 15.

Junior Andrew Berger took home an award in the SPECOL Committee for conceiving solutions on the issues of peace in the Middle East and in space. Kaitlin Pollack received an award in the UNICEL Committee that was designated to handle global issues that impact children and fellow sophomore Maya Karasanti was presented with an award in the African Summit.

Dozens of high schools from across the country attended the convention, that is described as a “student-run stimulation of the workings of the real United Nations,” and offers students the opportunity to learn nuts and bolts of global relations. Along with skills such as critical thinking and public speaking’

Applying knowledge gleaned from extensive research, the students take on the roles of delegates and represent a variety of viewpoints on international issues, often speaking on behalf of perspectives they might not agree with. HAFTR students were assigned to represent either Iran or Madagascar.