SDA Students See Global Diplomacy in Action: THIMUN 2025

17 students from Columbia Union Academies joined more than 3,000 other high school students from around the world at the 2025 The Hague International Model United Nations (THIMUN) conference last week in The Hague, Netherlands. The students served as diplomatic delegates for the country of Slovakia and the League of Arab States, a non-government organization that is part of the United Nations. During the week-long conference, delegates participated 11 U.N. committees that debated over 30 global issues ranging from the link between international terrorism and organized crime to measures to use artificial intelligence combat climate change to ensuring access to education for children. The Washington Adventist University Honors College coordinated the trip through their Center for Global Programs.

 

Student delegates came from seven academies – Atholton Adventist Academy, Highland View Academy, Pine Forge Academy, Shenandoah Valley Academy, Spring Valley Academy, Spencerville Academy, and Takoma Academy. Beginning in November of 2024, the delegates meet via Zoom with Dr. Jonathan Scriven, Associate Director of the WAU Honors College, to prepare for the conference. During 8 pre-session meetings the delegates learned the formalities of MUN debate, researched and prepared official Resolutions for the topics in their committees, and worked on speeches and questions that they would use at the conference.

 

Samuel Girven, a Senior at Shenandoah Valley Academy thoroughly enjoyed the experience. ‘THIMUN has given me the opportunity to see the process of international relations and foreign policy in action,’ he said. ‘I have grown considerably in my understanding of the world and the issues it faces because of being a delegate to THIMUN for the past two years.”

 

Asher Levos, a Senior at Highland View Academy, had similar thoughts. “I’m so grateful for the opportunity that was afforded me to attend THIMUN 2025. I was happy to be able to give several speeches at the conference and connect with other students from around the world.”

 

During the official Opening Ceremony of the conference, dignitaries from THIMUN and student leaders of the conference spoke about why THIMUN is such a terrific opportunity for students. The ceremony also included a welcome from the Mayor of The Hague. Just prior to the official Opening, NATO held a press conference in the lobby of the conference center to announce new plans for the NATO summit that will take place in The Hague in June of this year.

 

For four full days delegates discussed and debate their topics. The debates were spirited and often included strong statements from delegates from the various countries. By the end of the conference, each committee was able to pass a number of resolutions — all of which were designed to find a solution to a specific global problem.

 

In addition to attending THIMUN, the group spent one day visiting Amsterdam where they visited the Anne Frank museum and had a chance to explore the city. On Sabbath, February 1, the group attending the SDA Church in The Hague and helped create the service for the morning. Some of the students gave short presentations about their schools and the Sabbath sermon was delivered by WAU Provost Dr. Cheryl Kisunzu, who flew over to join the delegates for the final two days of the conference. On Saturday night, the church hosted a social night for the academy students and some youth groups from local Seventh-day Adventist churches. The evening included lots of games, pizza, and most importantly, an opportunity for socializing and making new friends.

 

“It is so rewarding to facilitate this kind of once-in-a-lifetime experience for students,” said Dr. Scriven. “Each year I look forward to taking the students to THIMUN and I am so pleased to have a group of students from SDA sitting alongside some of the biggest and well-known international schools in the world. We look forward to continuing to provide this kind of education and global experience for students in the coming years.”

 

 

The WAU Honors College actively participates in Model United Nations through its MUN program, which allows university students to participate in national and global conferences each year, including the International Labor Organization MUN (MUN-ILO) conference held at the U.S. State Department. The Honors College also hosts a conference for high school students each Spring called CAPITALMUN. This year’s CAPITALMUN conference will be held on the WAU campus on March 30-31. Please contact Dr. Scriven at jscriven@wau.edu for more information.