Ilion High School - Class of 1982

Source is here Utica NY Observer 1981 - 2348.pdf and
Utica NY Observer 1981 - 2349.pdf on fultonhistory.com

Photo caption - STUDENT DELEGATES - About 130 students from local schools participated yesterday's Model United Nations Assembly at Utica College. A group from Ilion High School, who served as delegates from Mexico, won top honors while Notre Dame High School and West Canada Valley Central collected two prizes each.

Ilion, N.D., Sweep Mock UN Assembly
By GERIANNE SPANEK

A five-member team from Ilion High School collected overall honors, while Notre Dame High School and West Canada Valley Central School each had two teams that won honors at yesterday's Model United Nations Assembly held at Utica College.

The sixth annual assembly sponsored by the Greater Mohawk Valley Chapter of the United Nations Association and the college's James Sherman Society attracted 130 students from 11 local junior and senior high schools, according to Dr. Michael Simpson, chairman of the event.

The other winning teams were from Clinton Senior High School and Herkimer High School.

The theme of this year's assembly was "Narrowing the Economic Gap by Battling Poverty in the 1982s." Nearly 30 nations were represented. Matthew Hamlin, a junior majoring in history at Utica College, served as secretary general. He was assisted by Christopher Crane, a senior political science major.

"The theme will allow the delegates to deal with a variety of international problems including the rate of technological transfer between the developed nations of the Northern Hemisphere and the underdeveloped nations of the Southern Hemisphere, the level of bilateral aid given to the least developed nations and foreign debt renegotiation," according to the sponsors of the assembly.

ILION'S WINNING TEAM that represented Mexico included David Morris, James Sheehan, Griffith Green, Matthew Thayer and Barbara Jennings

"Think Mexico" was the group's strategy, according to Morris. He said they conducted a great deal of research and tried to develop a Mexican perspective of the world situation.

The team won the first-place prize of $25 for their school library "for their overall performance in debate and preparation of the issues." Other winners received $10 awards for their school libraries.

Notre Dame's team representing The People's Republic of China was cited for most effective debate. The team included Glenn Newlove, Kevin Gagan, John Bronga, Joyce Noonan, Dan O'Connell and Kien Thi.

The school's Indonesia delegation that received an award for best diplomacy, included Waldemar Opalka, Michael Pazik, Jeff Stys, Janice Powers and Maria Guerra.

West Canada Valley's team representing the Federal Republic of Germany was honored for accurate representation of the country's true position. The delegation included Stuart Card and Michael Choquette. Card said much of their preparation consisted of research on third world countries to help effect a polarization between developed and non-developed nations at the assembly.

The school's other winning delegation that represented Saudi Arabia included Sue Coman, Keith Quinn, Frank Curzan and Randy Warner. The team was cited for its opening state.

HERKIMER'S DELEGATION representing Sweden included Sam Servello, Rita Pas, John Thomas, Robyn Churchill, Debbie Hoag, Paul Koroluk, Lee Smith and Charlotte Bergman, an exchange student from Falsterbo, Sweden. They were cited from best preparation.

Clinton's winning team consisted of Gordon Felt, David Rudge, Linda Eartly and Aaron Flaherty. The delegation represented Kuwait and was honored for most effective caucusing.

Other participating schools included Remsen Central School, Utica Free Academy, Proctor High School, Westmoreland Central School, Mount Markham Central School and Holland Patent Central School. Several schools sent more than one delegation.

The topics addressed by the delegations included UN think tank, emigration, birth control, development of fresh water supplies, an international ... long-term development grants, natural resources, an international communications and transportation network, an international energy commission and mandatory contributions to UNICEF.

The standard preparation included familiarization with parliamentary procedures in addition to research on the countries the represented. The program included pre-opening registration and caucusing, opening staments by national delegations, caucuses on the order of the agenda, adoption of the agenda, first caucus on resolutions and plenary session for debate of resolutions.

The Model General Assembly is conducted annually by the UN Association and Utica College.