Camas High School’s (CHS) Model United Nations (UN) has historically been a way for students to connect with and immerse in other cultures. Through the program, students from Camas can now create worldwide bonds and form more profound understandings of international customs.
Unfortunately, the club lost its advisor this year alongside CHS’s Spanish teacher, Katie Mcilraith. The absence of their mentor left the Model UN officer team scrambling to find a new advisor to fill her position. Luckily, the team found someone willing and ready, as MST teacher Brianna Abraham stepped up to the plate.
Abraham said she did not want to see the club go since it is well organized locally and nationally. She factored in the students heavily involved in running the club, commenting that there was not much she needed to do except oversee club activities and answer questions.
“The club is really run by the students. They direct the learning and model what the kids need to know for the conferences. [They’re the ones who lead the club],” Abraham said.
Those participating in this club are given many opportunities to connect with fellow students and grow their public speaking skills.
Model UN secretary and sophomore Aditi Manjunath said, “[Model UN] is a community, and if you want to get better at public speaking and become more articulate, it’s really [fun and helpful].”
The skills these students are given throughout the club benefit them highly, and the team who runs the club did not want to see their program diminish just because they lost their advisor. They strived to keep the organization running to continue helping people grow their speaking skills and world knowledge.
The president of Model UN, junior Cya Cook, said there has been a shift within the club’s leadership throughout the years, and that shift became more drastic when Mcilraith left.
“Three years ago, when the club was forming, the leadership was [in development]. It was tough to actually [complete and follow through with anything],” Cook said.
Cook also mentioned that when Mcilraith left this past summer, the students planned to find a teacher willing to take on the club.
Model UN is essential to CHS and a club that the student body does not want to see disappear, especially the students on the advisor team. Model UN has been in the community for a while, and these students, with the help of Abraham, were able to keep their club from sinking, even with the shift that took place this previous summer.
It appears that the club is going nowhere soon, and when speaking to these members, there was a resounding statement that people should check out the club and see what it offers.
