Ella Ford '28, Abby Livingston '28, Katie Phan '28, and Shelby Faulkner '28 represented the country of Ethiopia at the conference and received an award for writing an Outstanding Resolution.
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Middle School Girls Learn About Solving Global Issues Through Model UN
Solving global issues requires research, critical thinking, proposal crafting, and challenging discussions, and our 7th and 8th graders are honing their diplomacy skills through Model United Nations. The YMCA Middle School Model UN Conference provides an opportunity for students to practice their debate and public speaking skills in a formal setting while encouraging them to find ways to join together as a community to solve current global issues.
Hutchison students in 7th and 8th grades recently participated in the YMCA Middle School Model UN Conference, a citywide event where students engage in civil discourse and open discussion of international issues through role play. Every year, we see how this conference expands the minds of our students and builds their confidence in their own voice, critical thinking, and teamwork.
For weeks, the girls have been researching issues in 18 assigned countries, including Armenia, Iraq, Nigeria, Somalia, and Austria. They prepared resolutions addressing problems each country faces and have put a lot of time into practicing presenting and defending their proposals.
Their hard work shows! The following students were named Outstanding Delegates, an award given within each General Assembly to the students who best represented their countries/delegations: Madden Culpepper '27, Kaitlyn Johnson '27, Eloise McDonald '28, and Rowan White ’28.
The following delegations were recognized as having Outstanding Resolutions:
Nigeria: Madden Culpepper '27, Kaitlyn Johnson '27, and Molly Piper Spear '27
Ethiopia: Shelby Faulkner '28, Ella Ford '28, Abby Livingston '28, and Katie Phan '28
These groups' resolutions made it to General Assembly:
Armenia: Sienna Blaylock '28, Emma Coe '28, Abby Kamm '28, and Eloise Milnor '28
Austria: Dottie Higginbotham '27 and Ella Ann Russell '27
Egypt: Harper Godwin '28, Lois Hill '28, Leia Sherman '28, and Emily Weber '28
Somalia: Menaal Haris '28, Eman Kadiro '28, Jesslyn Majors '28, and Yilin Pan '28
The General Assembly passed resolutions by two groups:
Armenia: Sienna Blaylock '28, Emma Coe '28, Abby Kamm '28, and Eloise Milnor '28
Somalia: Menaal Haris '28, Eman Kadiro '28, Jesslyn Majors '28, and Yilin Pan '28
We are very proud of the entire Hutchison delegation! We know it's never too early to start thinking globally, and opportunities such as Model UN create unique and practical learning experiences for our girls.
Nine Hutchison upper school girls served the Memphis community during the Church Health Youth Service Council’s inaugural year and will continue to serve on the council next school year.
Jordan Deupree ’24 and Bailey Wiener ’24 have been recognized for their leadership in their selection for the Next Gen program, which provides students with mentorship and opportunities to learn more about the Memphis business community.
Hutchison alumna Dr. Kelly Rodney Arnold ’96 had the honor of serving as the commencement speaker for the University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s College of Arts and Sciences ceremony in May 2024.
At Hutchison, Zelia Cedeño-Avila ’24 stepped out of her comfort zone to try many different things and hone in on her interest in science and math, from serving as Technology Council president to creating a robotic scarecrow for her myExperience capstone project. A lifelong learner, she will bring her knowledge and skills to Vanderbilt University, where she plans to study mechanical engineering.
Three upper school students will participate in high-intensity summer programs in subjects including emerging technologies, international studies, and computational physics.
A discovery in one science class led Izzy Ellis ’24 to delve deeper into her interest in biology and map out a path for college and beyond. Along the way, she nurtured other interests, from athletics to civics. An aspiring oncologist, her dream is to find a new, innovative treatment that could help save lives.
Hutchison world language students participated in the 2024 U of M Language Fair, sponsored by The University of Memphis Department of World Languages and Literatures. Demonstrating their knowledge of Spanish, Hutchison had a total of 12 students win awards at the fair.
AP Scholar and National African American Recognition Program Scholar Lauren Coleman ’24 explored her interest in science and the environment at Hutchison. She hopes to make a difference through a career in sustainability.
J’oules Williams ’24 is a member of Memphis Parent magazine’s inaugural 10 under 20 class. The award celebrates youth who strive to make a difference in their community and change the lives of others for the better.
Adela Calzada ’24 has attended Hutchison since pre-K, and she said it allowed her to blossom into a leader who also makes Hutchison feel like home for her peers.
Our inaugural graduating class of the myExperience program presented their capstone projects with confidence, poise, and enthusiasm at our first myExperience Senior Showcase.
Excelsior! Demonstrating their knowledge of Latin, Hutchison had a total of 10 students win awards at the Tennessee Junior Classical League Convention.
Jayla Dorsey ’24 was a dedicated member of the varsity basketball team all four years of her high school experience, and she credits her coach, teammates, and Hutchison community members for believing in her.
Avery Webb ’26 enjoyed the opportunity to shadow Rep. John Gillespie in Nashville as he interacted with state officials and legislators, and she even got to meet Tennessee Governor Bill Lee.
Hutchison Now highlights graduates early in their careers who embody how a Hutchison education can lead anywhere you can imagine. We spoke with Mary Catherine Hughes ’10, a development associate at the Nashville Repertory Theatre.