Thirty members of Oceanside High School’s World Interest Club returned from the Princeton Model United Nations Conference this month with a slate of awards and a deeper understanding of global diplomacy after four days of debate, research and negotiation.
The annual conference, hosted by Princeton University, draws hundreds of high school delegates from across the country and around the world. This year, more than 20 percent of participants hailed from overseas, representing nations from India and China to the Dominican Republic — a hallmark of the program’s emphasis on real-world international exchange.
The Princeton conference marked the team’s first competition of the school year. Students spent weeks studying foreign policy, geopolitics and global crises in preparation for the simulation, where they role-played as ambassadors seeking solutions to issues ranging from artificial intelligence regulation and drone warfare to digital privacy rights.
Oceanside’s delegation distinguished itself across several committees. Abigail Santiago earned the conference’s top honor, Best Delegate. Honorable Mention awards went to Anthony Badalementi, Cora McCarthy and Daniella Sanchez. Verbal Commendations were presented to Quinn Beyrer, Samantha Galella and Suhaana Masud. Sabrina Zendaki received Best Position Paper.
The club is advised by teachers Karen Kosakoff and Gavin Kalner.
Entry into Oceanside’s delegation is selective; each fall, students undergo a rigorous two-day tryout, after which 30 are chosen as members and two as alternatives to step in should a delegate be unable to compete.
Next, the World Interest Club will send its 16 top-performing members to the prestigious Harvard Model U.N. Conference, scheduled for Jan. 29 to Feb. 1. Harvard hosts the nation’s oldest Model U.N. event and is considered one of the most competitive.
