Bellarmine Model United Nations

Bellarmine Model United Nations program is one of Bellarmine’s fastest-growing extracurricular activities. As a part of Model UN, students role-play delegates of the United Nations and simulate UN committees to address global problems and issues. Model UN participates in 7-8 conferences per year. Some students choose to participate in all of the conferences, whereas others attend fewer as their schedules allow. Model UN, along with providing access to both local and national conferences serves as a platform to increase the global awareness of the Bellarmine community as a whole. It is entirely student-run and holds biweekly meetings based around both debate skills and international politics. Overall, Model UN's mission is to provide an environment that nurtures a global perspective of the problems facing our world and encourages students to work together to solve our common problems peacefully.

Bellarmine Model United Nations helps students develop valuable knowledge and skills such as:

•          Research skills
•          Writing skills
•          Speaking skills
•          Interpersonal communication
•          Developing consensus
•          Awareness of global issues
•          How governments and Non-Governmental Organizations assist citizens in solving problems
•          Developing a sense of our global community and responsibility to each other
•          Understanding issues of social justice

Bellarmine Model United Nations Leadership Team 2020-21

Luke Jouflas, B’21, President
Henry Stelle, B’21, Secretary-General of BELLARMUN 2021
Benita Samson, B’21, Chair of Community Affairs, External
Rachel Daniel, B’22, Chair of Community Affairs, Internal
Bernice Samson, B’22, Chair of Communications
Mina Nair, B’22, Chair of Education, Advanced
Ryan Asche, B’21, Chair of Education, Beginner
Jaylen Shawcross, B’22, Vice-Chair of Education, Crisis Specialist
Brett Kelley, B’21, Chair of Logistics and Finance
Xavier Nazzal, B’23, Vice-Chair of Logistics and Finance

Bellarmin Model United Nations is blessed to be advised by Mr. Brown
Ken Brown joined the Bellarmine community in 2012 as a Social Studies and English teacher. He currently teaches AP World History, AP and AP US Government and Politics, and Honors Humanities. Mr. Brown reconstituted the Model UN program in 2013 (there have been many iterations of Model UN clubs throughout Bellarmine’s lengthy history), building membership from the dozen students who attended the first conference to over 50 members today. Mr. Brown enjoys the challenge of Model UN and giving students a platform for academic competition and cooperation. “In the absence of a debate team,” Mr. Brown notes, “Bellarmine Model UN gives students the opportunity to develop many of the same skills. I think anyone who enjoys or wants to work on public speaking, debating, and building their understanding of global issues would love Model UN. Plus, the people are great and we get to go on some pretty cool trips to college campuses all over the state and country!” Mr. Brown enjoys cycling, reading,and spending time with his wife, Marietta, who is a kindergarten teacher, and son, who is now a student at Bellarmine Preparatory School.

Any students interested in Model UN should feel free to contact Mr. Brown or any member of the rest of the Leadership Team. We hold weekly Office Hours after school on Thursdays in A12 — please stop by if you have a question!