Middle School Girls Grow in Confidence, Critical Thinking, and Civil Discourse Through Model UN

Our middle school girls are feeling like they can take on the world after the YMCA Middle School Model United Nations Conference.
Tackling global challenges takes sharp research skills, critical thinking, persuasive proposal crafting, and spirited debates. Our 7th and 8th graders are mastering all this and more through Model United Nations.

Every year, we see how the YMCA Middle School Model UN Conference expands the minds of our girls and builds their confidence in their own voice, critical thinking, and teamwork. For weeks, students have been working with 7th grade social science teacher Kollin Falk to research issues in assigned countries, including Egypt, Haiti, Indonesia, Lithuania, Panama, and Pakistan. They prepared resolutions addressing problems each country faces and put a lot of time into practicing, presenting, and defending their proposals. 

“Everyone did an amazing job. I was most impressed by their ability to ask good questions and their critical thinking skills. It was a great day all around,” Falk said.

Not only does Falk work with our girls on public speaking, but he also coaches our girls on how to handle intense debates. “After so much practice, I know I can think on my feet if I need to. I can listen for key points and ask questions about them,” Annslee Cain ’31 said. “We learned to speak up, maintain eye contact, and make sure we don’t fidget. Mr. Falk told us to be ourselves because we knew what we were talking about after researching and studying for so long.”

Our girls’ 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: Nancy Rie Adams ’30, Vera Berryhill ’30, Logan Canale ’30, Charlotte Chambliss ’30, Emma Cohn ’30, Chance Floyd ’31, Mariah Leach ’31, Katherine Pace ’30, and Charlotte Taylor ’30.

The following delegations were recognized for having Outstanding Resolutions:
  • Indonesia: Emily Lohman ’31, Louise Phillips ’31, Maggie Spence ’31, and Cora Winnig ’31
  • Ethiopia: Eshaal Baig ’30, Sara Deal ’30, and Isabella Harris ’30
  • Uganda: Meah Andrews ’31, Olivia Jones ’31, Lele Tayloe ’31, and Gracie Warner ’31 
These groups' resolutions passed at General Assembly:
  • Egypt: Maya Candiotto ’31, Audriana Hill ’31, Hattie Martin ’31, and Clayden Young ’31
  • Haiti: Cassidy Tavalin ’31, Pippa Williams ’31, and Evan Yarbrough ’31
  • Lithuania: Charlotte Chambliss ’30, Aneliese Farr ’30, Charlotte McAdams ’30, and Katherine Pace ’30
  • Pakistan: Morgan Knight ’31, Cecilia Lacher ’31, Harper Ladd ’31, and Collins Young ’31
  • Panama: Taylin Anderson ’30, Vera Berryhill ’30, Lila Frazier ’30, and Charlotte Taylor ’30
  • Turkmenistan: Hope Dobbs ’31, Sophia Hammond ’31, Delaney Lew ’31, and Henley Oates ’31
We are incredibly proud of the entire Hutchison delegation! It's never too early to start thinking globally, and opportunities such as Model UN create unique and practical learning experiences for our girls.
Back

Read More

  • Visit Visit
    Schedule a tour.
    You'll see first-hand what makes Hutchison special.
  • Apply Apply
    Ready?
    Start by filling out our online application.
  • Inquire Inquire
    Want to learn more?
    We'd love to tell you all about the Hutchison advantage.

Hutchison School

1740 Ridgeway Road
Memphis, Tennessee 38119
Phone: (901) 761-2220

Resources

Connect

Hutchison is the leading private girls school in Memphis for ages 2 years old through twelfth grade.