Buses from 28 school districts as far away as Syracuse and Ithaca rolled up to Hilton High School on a Friday afternoon so over 600 students could participate in the 36th Annual Hilton Model United Nations Conference on November 6 and 7. The student-directed event provides debate opportunities for both new and experienced high school delegates.
Students chaired 18 different committees based on actual UN committees that debate proposals, present position papers and vote on resolutions. Schools select the country/countries they want to represent and delegates prepare before the conference by researching that country’s stand on issues and current problems. Delegates take an active role in committee representing their country while following parliamentary procedures.
In addition to being an opportunity to learn and collaborate with students from other schools, Model UN raises funds for charity. Students sell carnations and compete in “Jar Wars” to see which committee can raise the most money for a charity selected by the keynote speaker. This year’s recipient is The International Committee of the Red Cross, a private humanitarian agency that works to protect human life and health, ensure respect for all humans and prevent and alleviate human suffering.
This year’s conference theme was Humanitarian Aid, one of the most important missions of the United Nations and the Red Cross. Delegates debated about humanitarian aid in all its forms from protecting the rights of refugee children to basic sanitation to holding aid-givers accountable when aid is corrupted or misappropriated.
Principal Brian Bartalo addressed the students during the opening ceremonies by quoting Thích Nhat Hanh, a Vietnamese Buddhist monk, teacher, author, poet and peace activist, “There is no true well-being that does not consider the well-being of others.” “You are the future caretakers of a more peaceful and just world,” he told the delegates. “You realize that other people with their differences can also be right and can work together to find creative solutions,” said Bartalo.
This year’s keynote speaker was Ralph Boyd, chief executive officer of the Massachusetts Red Cross. Boyd has nearly a decade of humanitarian service through leadership roles with organizations, including the American Association of People with Disabilities and Easter Seals. He served as assistant attorney general on September 11, 2001. “After the events of 9-11, I functionally became assistant secretary of state managing the intersection between counter terrorism strategies and human rights,” said Boyd.
Hilton teacher Annette Wattie has coordinated the Conference for the past six years. Prior to that, Robert Phillips, a retired Hilton teacher, and his wife, Mary, also a retired Hilton teacher, ran the conference for over 30 years and now Phillips is in charge of the United Nations Association of Rochester Conference held in March at St. John Fisher College.
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