- InterConnections 21

Summer 2014
Photos courtesy of Mark Pommer, Sloan Gordon & Evan Huggins
Jackson Students Distinguish Themselves at Ivy League Model UN
More than 2,700 students—including 16 from
three Jackson high schools—took part in the
Ivy League Model United Nations Conference
(ILMUNC) hosted in Philadelphia by the
University of Pennsylvania last winter.
Participants debated a wide array of current
and past global topics such as the IsraelLebanon conflict in 2006, human cloning,
and the Chernobyl disaster. One of the most
prestigious high school level conferences
in the US, ILMUNC draws top model UN
teams from across the country and abroad. IC
21 organized the trip to Philadelphia for the
Jackson delegation that was coached by Jeff
Brazil, Social Studies teacher at Jackson Hole
High School.
Every year IC 21 sponsors the Teton County
Model United Nations (TCMUN), which
attracts students from around WY and ID.
At TCMUN and ILMUNC, each student
represents a country and participates in a
committee that simulates a UN body and
is comprised of delegates representing
countries assigned to them by the conference
organizers. In each committee, students
“What impressed me most was the way
the group’s passion for the event spilled
out of their committees and into constant
discussion with, and advice for, their peers
about the conference and model UN”
–Cormac Mullin, Journeys School ‘14
deliberate global issues, create solutions in
the form of resolutions, and strive to convince
other delegates to pass these resolutions. As a
testament to the quality of TCMUN and Mr.
Brazil’s coaching, Jackson students received
the Outstanding Small Delegation award at
ILMUNC.
ILMUNC was valuable for the Jackson
students, exposing them to topics and formats
Teacher Jeff Brazil and Jackson students at the Liberty Bell during the ILMUNC Trip to Philadelphia in January ‘14.
of debate that forced them to think on their
feet. The group responded well to this
challenge. Reily Gibson, a junior at Jackson
Hole High School representing Thailand, was
recognized as Best Delegate in the committee
dealing with the Chernobyl disaster. Matt
Boney and Cormac Mullin, Journeys School
seniors, received Honorable Mentions in their
committees that focused on global economic
development and Arab-Israeli relations,
respectively.
Excited by their success and the ideas and
experiences they acquired, the Jackson
students have begun incorporating elements
from ILMUNC into next year’s TCMUN,
and are preparing for another national-level
conference in 2015. While in Philadelphia,
they visited Independence Hall, the Liberty
Bell and a number of historical sites that
evoked the values of civic engagement and
citizenship inculcated by the Model UN
experience and vital for US democracy.
UPCOMING IC 21 EVENTS
• July 29-August 16:
Tanzania Service Learning Trip.
• August 16:
IC 21’s nonprofit of the week booth at JH Farmers’
Market, Jackson Town Square, 8 AM-noon.
• September 3:
Tanzania trip presentation by student participants,
6:30pm, hosted by Teton Conty Libray.
• October (date & venue TBD):
Community discussion of Dr. Bruce Jones’ Still
Ours to Lead facilitated by University of WY
Professor Marianne Kamp.
• November 16:
Community reception featuring TCMUN keynote
speaker Dr. Bruce Jones, senior fellow at
Brookings Institute & author of Still Ours to Lead,
6:30pm-9pm, Center for the Arts.
• November 17-18:
Teton County Model UN Conference, Jackson
Hole High School.
Visit us at www.IC21.org
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InterConnections 21 • 3415 North Pines Way, Unit 101 B, Wilson, WY 83014 • e-mail: info@ic21.org • www.ic21.org
Large Jackson Audiences Learn about
Ancient Ski Culture & Cambodia
21
T E T O N C O U N IC
TY M
O D EBuzz
L U N I T E D N AT I O N S
Ann Smith, a longtime Jackson resident, became IC 21 board chair in
March. Ann has a passion for wildlife conservation in Africa and the
Yellowstone ecosystem and a wealth of nonprofit board experience.
IC 21 founder Susie Rauch assumed the role of Executive Director.
Susan DeMuro and Elizabeth Hamlin joined the board in May and June
respectively.
In May, Lina Collado, born and raised in Puerto Rico, joined IC 21’s staff
as Program Associate. Evan Huggins, who has done an outstanding job
in this position for the last three years, is leaving to start a Masters’
program in Industrial Design at Pratt Institute in September.
University of WY writer-in-residence Mark Jenkins drew an overflow
crowd to the Center for the Arts Theater on January 23, 2014 for a
presentation on “The Last of the First Skiers.” Based on his trip to
the Altai Mountains in Central Asia for National Geographic, Jenkins
spoke and showed slides about the world’s oldest ski culture that has
survived intact for over 5000 years. The previous day Jenkins gave a
presentation entitled “The Healing Fields of Cambodia” to over 500
high school students and educators at Jackson Hole High School. The
University of WY’s Global and Area Studies Program, under Dr. Jean
Garrison’s leadership, sponsored Jenkins’ Jackson visit with support
from IC 21.
Venerable US Diplomat Thomas
Pickering Speaks in Jackson
On February 26-27, former Under Secretary of State Thomas R.
Pickering, who held eight ambassadorships during his distinguished
State Department career, spoke at three events in Jackson. First, he met
with 50 student leaders from local high schools and discussed current
global ‘hot spots’ –Egypt, Ukraine, Iran and Syria, as well as careers with
international
dimensions.
He then participated in
“Jackson was so honored to
a
videoconference
that
have Ambassador Pickering.
focused on “The Iran Interim
What an impressive man.
Agreement: Next Steps and
He covered the world with
Likely Consequences in Iran,
incisive remarks in an hour.
A very special event for our
the US and the Middle East.”
small town.”
This occasion engaged some
-Susie McDowell, Jackson
25
Jackson
community
resident
members, in addition to
students at the Universities of
WY and MT, Casper College
and Northwest College (in Powell, WY). Finally, over 300 people
gathered at the Center for the Arts to hear him discuss “Challenges
Facing the US in a Globalized World” and had an opportunity to ask
questions. Ambassador Pickering’s remarks at these events can be
accessed at www.ic21.org.
Ambassador Pickering discussses global issues and international careers with Jackson student
leaders. Photo courtesy of Susie Rauch
IC 21 newsletter is printed on recycled paper
Writer Mark Jenkins speaking about the world’s oldest ski culture.
Photo courtesy of Susie Rauch
Jackson Students Head to Tanzania
for Service and Learning
During the summer of 2014, fifteen Jackson high school students will
undertake a three-week service and learning trip to the Maasai Steppe
of Northern Tanzania. InterConnections 21 and Arcadia Service
Learning are sponsoring the trip in partnership with the African
People and Wildlife Fund (APW). The trip’s core project will be the
construction of a 900 square foot library, the first of its kind in the area,
adjacent to an elementary school in the small village of Loibor Siret.
Working with APW, students will also build “living walls” (made from
local materials such as the African myrrh trees) to protect livestock
from wildlife, thereby saving lions and other large predators that were
formerly often killed by livestock owners.
Participating
students
and their families are
raising the funds for this
trip. On September 3rd at
6:30 PM, trip participants
and leaders will hold a
community presentation,
hosted by Teton County
Library, about their time
and research projects in
Tanzania.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Ann C. Smith, Chair, Wilson, WY
Bill Field, Vice-chair & Treasurer, Jackson, WY
Joe Albright, Jackson, WY
Len Carlman, Wilson, WY
Susan DeMuro, Wilson, WY
Elizabeth Hamlin, Jackson, WY
Susan Jackson, Jackson, WY
Eugene B. Skolnikoff, Prof., MIT, Cambridge, MA
Mary Kay Turner, Jackson, WY & Washington, D.C.
Mary Woollen, Wilson, WY
IC 21 STAFF
Susie Rauch, Executive Director
Lina Collado, Program Associate
InterConnections 21 is a 501c3 non-profit organization (EIN: 84-1379499). Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Online: ic21.org/Donate // By mail: Please make checks out to IC 21 and send to PO Box 960, Wilson, WY 83014.