LHS' Model UN Team Shines At Conference

The Lakewood High School Model United Nations Club turned in another outstanding performance at the Cleveland Council on World Affairs Model UN Conference held November 9 and 10. Seniors Kevin Kvasnicka, Jimmy Matthiesen and freshman Sean Weddell won a “Gavel” as the single most outstanding delegate in their committee. Matthiesen and Derek Dashiell won an Excellent Delegation Award.

Six LHS delegations won Honorable Mention Awards, including: senior Stacey Sponsler; juniors Ellen Latsko and Grace Lazos; juniors Caroline Canale and Moira Horn; sophomores Irina Vatamanu and Sarah Neff; freshman Sean Weddell and Zach Moran; and freshman Laert Fejzullari. 

The conference, one of two held each year, was created to foster awareness about international diplomacy and the work of the United Nations. Sixty-five schools from Northeast Ohio and beyond are part of the Model UN program and LHS competes against the top private and public schools in the area during the conference.

Delegates to the conference research their country and its policies relating to the topic assigned for the conference then prepare a “country profile” and “position paper” that discusses a country’s policy toward the specific topic assigned to the committee a delegate serves on. During the conference, the committees of delegates then debate and negotiate the about the topic. The students then write resolutions based on the issues debated and a vote is taken. It’s a taste for the student delegates of the decision-making process used by diplomats and world leaders.

According to club adviser Dr. Chuck Greanoff, integral to the success of the club is the exemplary leadership of senior co-presidents Stacey Sponsler and Ingrid Vatamanu and senior training directors Ryan Cleary and Jimmy Matthiesen. Also, key to the club's success is the efforts of Garfield Middle School teacher Joshua Thornsberry. Thornsberry generously volunteered his time and considerable insights to help prepare the club members.

Greanoff and the students also are grateful for the financial support of the Lakewood High School Alumni Foundation, which defrays transportation costs through a Margaret Warner Grant.