Two falcons have reached a milestone few achieve in Model United Nations: being named to the prestigious All-American Team.
Both John Patterson and Sage Barreto are juniors who started doing Model United Nations, or Model UN, in 9th grade. Recently, they earned a spot on the prestigious All-American Team, showcasing their excellence in Model UN. The All-American Model UN Travel Team consists of around 70 high achieving students from around the country. “I joined Model UN because I have a deep interest in global diplomacy and a desire to explore real-world issues through debate and negotiation, ” Patterson said. “Model UN offered a unique opportunity to develop my public speaking, critical thinking, and teamwork skills while engaging in meaningful discussions on international affairs.”
Apart from this special distinction, Patterson and Barreto both have accomplished an impressive array of achievements throughout their high school careers.
Patterson has been named the Best Delegate at Rice Model UN, Honorable Delegate twice at Harvard Model Congress, and Outstanding Delegate at Emery/Weiner Model UN.
On the other hand, some of Barreto’s notable achievements include multiple Best Delegate awards at Rice Model UN, Outstanding Delegate at Stanford Model UN, and Best Delegate at Lone Star Model UN.
“I spend around 2-3 hours a week preparing if I have no tournament, and if there is, it goes up to 5-10,” Barreto said. “I practice speaking drills, decision making, and do general research.”
The road to being named to the All-American Team was not an easy one. It involved a rigorous selection procedure, where candidates were required to showcase their skills and achievements at high level Model UN conferences. In addition, applicants needed to demonstrate excellence in research, debate, collaboration, and leadership.
“I found the process challenging but incredibly rewarding, as it was an opportunity to reflect on my growth in MUN and to push myself to meet high standards,” Patterson said. “Joining Team USA is a tremendous honor and gives me a chance to engage with the best delegates from around the world.”
The commitments for being a part of the All-American team include meeting every other week for 2 hours if there are no upcoming conferences. If there are, the meetings go up to once a week. In addition, representatives from the All-American team have to attend conferences with the team.
“I really look forward to All-American Model UN since it gives me a way to connect with other people who share the same interests as me as well as be able to grow as a delegate,” Barreto said.
Being named to the All-American Team is just the beginning for the two juniors, who are leaving a significant impact on Kinkaid’s Model UN program through their outstanding achievements.
As they look ahead to their senior year and beyond, both students aspire to continue their involvement in global affairs, whether through leadership roles in MUN or a pursuit of international relations in college.
“This experience has not only given me valuable skills for the future, but has also sparked my passion for understanding global challenges,” Patterson said.
