PLATTSBURGH — BY ASHLEIGH LIVINGSTON

Members of Beekmantown High School's Model United Nations Club recently learned an empowering lesson — strength doesn't always come in numbers or from deep pockets.

Last month, the club traveled to Boston to compete in the Harvard Model United Nations Conference, where its 10 members debated with more than 3,000 other high-school students from nearly 30 countries around the globe.

And though much of Beekmantown High's competition came from larger public and private institutions, the small school from far rural New York emerged victorious, winning the highest percentage of awards per number of team members.

Prior to the conference, each competing club was assigned a country to represent, and students were responsible for researching real-life issues faced by that country. They then debated those issues with other clubs at the conference in hopes of reaching amicable solutions to the world's problems.

"They try to debate problems the (real) U.N. would debate," said Carlos Madan, an adviser to the school's Model United Nations Club.

MOCK DEBATES

This year, Beekmantown High's club represented Montenegro, splitting up into smaller teams of either one or two delegates, each focusing on separate issues.

To ensure they would be ready for January's conference, the club began preparing last summer — poring over information, writing essays and challenging each other in mock debates.

Club member Sarah Wang explained that each team of delegates had a responsibility to represent Montenegro's views as accurately as possible, putting aside its members' own convictions.

"It's not (about) a personal standpoint," said club member Dan Frederick.

And the conference's panel of judges, made up of Harvard University students, proved impressed by Beekmantown's work, as three of the club's teams received individual awards, resulting in the entire group receiving the Small Delegation Award.

ALUMNUS MODERATED

Beekmantown High's Charles Simpson competed by himself against teams comprising two delegates each and was named the Best Delegate among his competitors.

Stephani Clookey competed against other individual delegates and received an honorable mention for her efforts. Frederick and Joel Wood each received an honorable mention for their dual efforts against opposing two-delegate teams.

"They did very well for themselves this year," said Matthew Chartier, a former Beekmantown student who participated in the school's Model United Nations Club throughout his high-school career.

Chartier graduated from Beekmantown in 2008 and went on to study at Harvard, where he is currently a senior and member of the university's own Model United Nations Club.

Chartier worked as a moderator at this year's conference and watched his former high school shine among schools whose Model United Nations clubs have long been established as highly sophisticated and prestigious organizations.

"It was an extremely proud moment for me," Chartier said.

MOTIVATION

But perhaps even more glorious than the awards are the invaluable skills students gained from the experience.

"It's a very mind-expanding experience," Frederick said.

Chartier said that, in addition to learning about their assigned country and the functions of the United Nations, students learn about professionalism and how to articulate.

They also get the opportunity, he said, to rub shoulders with ambitious youth from around the world.

"What a lot of us take away most is having that interaction with people from other countries," Clookey said.

Chartier credits Beekmantown High's success at the conference, in part, to students' focus and determination.

"They know they have something to prove.

"They maintain a very impressive degree of professionalism," he said.

In addition, Chartier said, the club's advisers, Madan and Scott Tuller, are responsible for motivating students and bringing out the best in them.

"One of greatest strengths of Beekmantown Model U.N. is the advising they have," Chartier said.

FUNDING WAS CUT

But Beekmantown High's delegates almost didn't get the chance to demonstrate their talents at this year's conference.

Last spring, school budget cuts eliminated funding that would have paid for the club's advisers to travel to Boston.

But the ever-determined students decided canceling the trip was not an option and took it upon themselves to seek donations from local businesses.

"We owe the community a great thanks," Wang said.

The students hope their awards and positive experiences will serve as a testament to the value of the Model United Nations Club and help to preserve it well into the future.

Maintaining the program is especially important, they said, because it is currently the only academic club at Beekmantown High School.

"We don't want this program to be lost," Wood said.

Email Ashleigh Livingston at: alivingston@pressrepublican.com