Colfax Model United Nations Club attends national conference in New York

Colfax High School students from the Model United Nations Club participated in the National High School Model United Nations conference in New York in March. The purpose of this club is for students to learn about the policies of the United Nations and to solve real current issues as if they were in the position of the country assigned to them. This particular conference had more than 4,000 delegates in attendance from schools across the United States, and advisors Kaitlyn Jenkins and Sarah Scopfer knew the Colfax club was ready for this level of challenge. Colfax Model UN (CMUNC) has been a growing club for seven years and has attended state-wide conferences and traveled as far as Rome, Italy, to compete. However, this was CMUNC's first trip to New York for a national conference. A nationwide conference such as this one is no easy feat. The intimidation alone is enough to deter any student, but a majority of the Colfax club, led by secretary general Adam Weingart, went into the conference prepared and confident. After preparing for the trip with submitted research and knowledge on their assigned country, this group represented our tiny Northern California school and one student, Xavier Cieszynski-Truxler, was even chosen to speak to former United States Senator Mitt Romney. The flashiness of going on club trips to these cities isn't what the club is essentially about. Something most people wouldn't think about is how these teenagers are taught skills of diplomacy. They are put in the same position as any world leader to solve and discuss issues like "The ethics of emerging health technologies" and "Protecting cultural heritage and conflict zones." Asked about the importance of these discussions, Jenkins, club advisor and Colfax English teacher, explained, "They write these resolutions to global issues that could actually work. If they had any sway in the world at all, the world would change. It's just that they're 15, in a classroom right now." The ideas and collaborations that happen in that conference room are a revolution of young minds who are about to experience life outside of the classroom. These committees open minds to things students didn't know they were passionate about, but it's now something they could dedicate their lives to. The Model UN club doesn't rely on the students for their funding, they arrange a multitude of fundraisers such as the CMUNC banquet. The 2026 banquet was held in February and is hosted each year with food, dancing and a silent auction to raise money for opportunities like the national conference. The success of the club is telling to the voices of kids anywhere and how these students showed their dedication to academics, current events and diplomacy, all while representing their hometown of Colfax.