The James Monroe High School (JMHS) Model United Nations (MUN) Debate Team has again earned the privilege of representing the state of West Virginia at the Harvard University MUN Conference in Boston, Massachusetts on Jan. 26-29, 2023. Participation in this prestigious event is by application only, and this is the third time JMHS has earned the right to participate. This invitation is a distinct honor for the Mavericks and the entire community.
It will also require significant financial support, so we are soliciting donations in any amount from the community and hope to raise $20,000 to take 12 students this year. If you wish to make a contribution, please make checks out to James Monroe High School and mail them to 142 James Monroe Drive, Lindside, WV 24951, Attn: Dr. Scott Womack.
The trip will span six days, four of which will be debate sessions with over 3,000 students from around the world on topics of global concern such as weaponization of space, unexploded ordnance, cyber warfare and cyber-crime, global impact of economic sanctions, the spread of genetically modified organisms, and the future of globalization. It will also include a visit to the Harvard campus and tours of historic sites in the greater Boston area such as the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library, the Freedom Trail, Bunker Hill, the USS Constitution, and the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. It is the opportunity of a lifetime for twelve Mavericks, who will be selected via a rigorous process involving a written position paper and interview session.
As with most things in 2022 flight, hotel, and food prices have risen significantly, and the cost of the trip is approximately $20,000, not including some meals and incidental expenses. Needless to say, this is a large sum, but the payoff for the participants and the community is beyond price. The Mavericks will begin to raise funds for this project immediately via multiple avenues: look for us at one of these events or feel free to make a donation at any time.
Although Model United Nations is not a class at JMHS as it is in some other high schools, the students gain valuable academic experience in research, critical thinking, logic, written and verbal communication, and empathy by participating in it. As the only school from West Virginia to participate in HMUN since its inception in 1953, Monroe County should be proud of the success of these students. Anyone interested in making a contribution should contact Dr. Scott Womack, Lieutenant Colonel (Retired), U.S. Army at swomack@k12.wv.us, via Facebook Messenger, or via phone at 304-753-5182.
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