Model U.N. program gives Camarillo students global perspective
Teens will represent Morocco and Peru as delegates at national conference in New York
By Michelle Knight knight@theacorn.com

DIPLOMATS IN TRAINING- Evan Jaquias-Johnson, 17, left, Logan Ludington, 17, and teacher Rita Neumeister practice their debating skills. The three are members of the Camarillo High School Model United Nations Team which will travel to New York in March to take part in a national conference and simulation of the United Nations. BILL SPARKES/Acorn Newspapers

Kathryn Enriquez and Shoshana Graff don't fit the stereotype of the selfabsorbed and disinterested teenager. And neither do at least 16 of their fellow students at Adolfo Camarillo High School.

The teens spend their free time immersed in the demographic particulars of Morocco and Peru instead of paging through glamour magazines and conducting unending phone conversations. They will represent the North African and South American countries as social, political and cultural experts and delegates in New York at the National High School Model United Nations conference in March.

The eight Camarillo teams will be the only attendees at the conference from schools in Ventura or Santa Barbara counties.

BILL SPARKES/Acorn Newspapers DELEGATED- Byron Milligan, 17, of Adolfo Camarillo High School will be among the school's Model United Nations Team members attending March conference in New York City.

Kathryn and Shoshana, both 15, said they joined the program to learn about global issues and help come up with answers. They said it's important that their peers do the same.

"I would say because we're the future and if we don't care, or if we don't know anything about what is going on, how are we going to understand it at all," Shoshana said.

For the last few months, the girls have spent six or more hours a week researching, writing and planning strategies for the simulated United Nations conference. They have to know enough about Morocco to discuss intelligently the issues of global literacy, xenophobia and the battle against racism to craft resolutions with the 300 other delegates in their committee.

"The more you know, the better," Kathryn said.

English teacher Rita Neumeister has been program advisor for 10 years. She's seen students choose career paths because of their experiences with the program, and noted that two former students, a brother and sister, started an international magazine.

"Model United Nations brings the world to the students," Neumeister said. "They learn to accept diversity; they learn to comprehend global problems and they learn to come to a consensus . . . Basically, they just learn to be great global citizens."

Students at the conference will begin some of their days around 9 a.m. and end at 11 p.m.

Neumeister called the itinerary "brutal." On the first day, they're full of excitement, she said; by the fourth day "they're the walking dead."

But it won't be all work for the teenagers. They'll arrive a few days before and leave the day after the conference to spend time enjoying the sites of New York City. The weeklong trip is costing them about $1,000.

To be accepted into Adolfo Camarillo's program, students must have a B-plus average and recommendations from three teachers. They have to give a writing sample and show problem solving ability and verbal skills in an oral interview.

"We ask a lot of these kids," Neumeister said.

The National High School Model United Nations conference in New York runs from March 7 through 10.