Local High School Students Engage in CU-Mansfield High School Model UN Conference

Commonwealth University-Mansfield hosted a High School Model United Nations Conference on Wednesday, November 6, 2025. Over 125 students from ten local high schools representing 67 countries attended the day-long event. Students debated a wide range of global topics, including the situation in Gaza, the digital divide, the rights of refugees, and drug cartels in the Caribbean.

The day began with an opening ceremony and a keynote address by Dr. Brad Lint, Associate Professor of English, in Straughn Auditorium. He immediately captivated students’ attention by speaking Mandarin. He shared insights from the sixteen years he lived in Taiwan and emphasized the importance of cultural literacy in a dynamic world. He used interactive methods and graphs to illustrate "China’s Rise and the Need for Cultural Literacy in a Global Age," which was the title of his presentation. 

Afterwards, students convened in their pre-assigned simulations: General Assembly, Human Rights Council, and Security Council. High school students debated global topics and voted on resolutions. For example, one delegation sponsored a resolution arguing that stable internet connection was a basic human right and called upon more affluent countries to assist with internet connectivity and infrastructure.  

Mr. Peter Henty, a social studies teacher from Towanda High School, has begun to embed the simulation into his high school curriculum and looks forward to the yearly event. He accompanied 24 students to the conference.  Mr. Will Chynoweth brought 12 students from Corning-Painted Post High School, and remarked, “The Model UN Mansfield conference really highlights the students' strengths and lets them get more comfortable working with strangers and global topics that students do not normally study. This conference is worth the trip every year, and all my students thoroughly enjoyed themselves.” 

CU-Mansfield students ran and supported the simulations. For political science majors, Dallas Schultz (’26) and Eli Kaufman (’26), it was their third time running high school simulations. They chaired the General Assembly and Security Council, respectively.  “It is exciting to lead the simulation, because it is fun to see how high school students react to on-the-spot situations that arise during it,” said Eli Kaufman.  He added, “I have been impressed with the quality of some of the debates.”

Ryan O’Connor, a secondary education major, chaired the Human Rights Council. The chairs were assisted by other CU-Mansfield students, including Gianna Benz, Gavin Fessler, Allyson Lewis, Adriana Marley, Tabbitha Piper, Daniel Storrs, and Kylie Waybrant.  
Dr. Jonathan C. Rothermel, associate professor (Political Science), believes that experiential learning opportunities are growing in importance. “Putting students in a situation where they must prepare beforehand and then think on their feet when presented with hypothetical situations are valuable skills to learn for students at all levels.”  He works closely with his students and colleague, Dr.

Jeff Bosworth, (HPPS Department Chair), to plan and organize the event, while building relationships with high school teachers who are interested in exposing their students to real-world simulations.   

The event concluded with awards in the General Assembly: Best Delegation Award at the UN General Assembly (Croatia, Zoe Martin and Phinn Barber, Corning-Painted Post HS), 1st Runner Up (United States, Nozila Izmailova and Alyssa Dulaney, Towanda HS), 2nd Runner Up (France, Ollie Furman, Wellsboro HS), 3rd Runner Up (Colombia, Ethan Smith and Caitlyn Harrison, Corning-Painted Post HS), 4th Runner Up (Cyprus, Troy Madison and James Young, Cowanesque Valley HS), and Honorable Mention (Chad, Jackson Frederick and Noah Dalton, Towanda HS). 

Additional awards were presented in the Human Rights Council: Best Delegation at the UN Human Rights Council (Ukraine, Neha Parasuram and Ted LeBlond, Corning-Painted Post HS), 1st Runner Up (El Salvador, Jude Cuneo, Wellsboro HS), 2nd Runner Up (Malaysia, Karter Campbell, Wellsboro HS), 3rd Runner Up (Uganda, Moira Wheeler, North Penn-Mansfield HS), and Honorable Mention (Albania, Kara Barrett and Madilynn Scott, North Penn-Mansfield HS).  

Awards were presented in the Security Council: Best Delegation at the UN Security Council (United States, Trevor King and Niya Sharma, Horseheads HS), Runner Up (Russia, Elaina Shaw and Madison Smith, North Penn-Mansfield HS), and Honorable Mention (Greece, Elliot Spooner and Angie Cory, Wellsboro HS).

Finally, awards were given for position papers: Best Position Paper (Cuba, Kathryn Long and Brynnley Brodeur, Corning-Painted Post HS ), Runner-Up (Israel, Shawn LeBlond and Sanaa Harewood, Corning-Painted Post HS), Honorable Mention (Hungary, Brielle Vargason and Ellie Bellows, Towanda HS), and Honorable Mention (Japan, Leila Cobb and Mya Maynard, Towanda HS). 

The following high schools participated: Addison HS, Cowanesque Valley HS, Corning-Painted Post HS, Horseheads HS, New Covenant Academy, North Penn-Mansfield, Towanda HS, Troy HS, Wellsboro HS, and Williamson HS.  

More photos.