Seventh and eighth graders from many Northeast Ohio schools participated in the 2008 Global Issues Seminar at Kent State University on Wednesday, March 12, 2008. Each participating school sent one or two teams to the seminar who represented an assigned country in the United Nations General Assembly.
The following students attended from the Academy of St. Adalbert in Berea: Ashley Agerter, Niko Bernardone, Alexa Graziolli, Brett Polcyn and Ashley Rote. These students represented Lebanon in the General Assembly. Mrs. Jane Bernardone planned the trip for Quest students in Grades 7 & 8. Mr. John Pymn accompanied the students on the trip, as well as Mr. Bob Keller. Please see Photo.
Kent State University's students and staff served as group facilitators. The middle school students determined from their assigned nation's point of view how the world's resources should be spent on stopping terrorism, educating the world's children, fighting poverty, controlling HIV / AIDS, and protecting the environment and basic human rights around the globe.
Students at the Academy of St. Adalbert felt the trip was very educational. One of their favorite parts was when they were able to meet a representative from Lebanon. She was very impressed with the student's research and presentations. The second part the students liked was when they broke up into groups to discuss the issue the students had research. During that section, students discussed issues with the other schools.
This model UN program is also conducted annually at Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey, and beginning next winter in Las Vegas, Nevada as well. The program is co-sponsored by the College of Education, Health and Human Services at Kent State University.
Students received a flag from Lebanon. The flag, picture and the student's poster is on display in the 8th grade home room. Please stop by and see it.