March 20, 2024 -- Congratulations to the 43 Shaker Heights Middle School students who represented nine nations at the Ohio Leadership Institute’s Junior Ohio Model UN Conference. OMUN is a three-day global education simulation experience that allows students in Grades 5-8 to learn the complete operations of the United Nations and its role as the world’s largest international peacekeeping and humanitarian organization. More than 600 students from across the state of Ohio competed in the conference which emphasizes leadership development and global-mindedness. The students who competed and earned recognition at the Ohio Model United Nations conference that was held from Sunday, March, 17, through Tuesday March 19, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio are the following:
Outstanding Leader Award
Saya Walters
Nation: Colombia
Outstanding Leader Award
Jessie Tien
Nation: Ghana
Outstanding Leader Award
Lauren Jalics
Nation: Lesotho
World Problem Solving Contest Runner-Up
Julia Koops
Nation: The Gambia
Current Events Contest Runner-Up
RJ Lee
Nation: Mauritius
World Citizenship Contest Runner-Up
Devin Zitelli
Nation: Mauritius
Outstanding Resolution
Maizy Machmer-Wessels, Cate Wanick, Rachel Hren, Lauren Jalics, Vivian Clement
Nation: Lesotho
Finally, the following student was elected into an office and will help to lead the OMUN 2025 conference as a 9th grader:
McKenna Martin: Council Vice-President
SMS OMUN Advisers: Matt Wyman, Mike Sears & David Saluga
Honorable Chaperone: Sarah Knebel