The Athens Academy Model UN team competed in the UGA High School Model UN Conference, held virtually this year on February 6 and 7. Twenty-three students in grades 9 through 12 participated on the team, with ten students receiving a total of eight awards, a school record:

• Kathryn Nichols ‘22 & Brayden Edmonds ‘22: Best Position Paper, Nigeria, General Assembly 4th Committee

• Anan Shen ‘21: Best Position Paper, Malaysia, Organization of Islamic Cooperation

• Michael Klass ‘22: Honorable Mention, Nigeria, Organization of Islamic Cooperation

• McKenzie Elrod ’21: Honorable Mention, 2016 Election Crisis Simulation

• Ingrid Nilsson ’22: Honorable Mention, Lord of the Rings Crisis Simulation

• Elizabeth Marx ‘22 & Annie Cross ’22: Distinguished Delegation, Nigeria, General Assembly 3rd

  Committee

• Jackson Scruggs ’23: Distinguished Delegate, Nigeria, Organization of Islamic Cooperation

• Imana Adogu ’22: Distinguished Delegate, Malaysia, Commission on the Status of Women

  According to team advisor Dr. Allison Turney, “[This team] worked so well together during our weekly practices, with the six student leaders going above and beyond to help encourage and support the less experienced students. They cheerfully wrote their ‘position papers’ (a pre-written conference component demonstrating research/preparation) on a much-rushed schedule. And they stuck with a grueling 12+ hour Zoom conference schedule. I really applaud these students for embracing the challenge of an entirely new virtual conference format...During the closing ceremonies, one of the conference organizers said that, across the board, the Athens Academy team prepared the best position papers and that they were most impressed.”

  Pictured, left to right: Jackson Scruggs, Annie Cross, Elizabeth Marx, Ingrid Nilsson, Kathryn Nichols, Brayden Edmonds, Imana Adogu, Michael Klass. Not pictured: McKenzie Elrod and Anan Shen.

  Athens Academy is an independent, co-educational school for students in K3 through 12th grade, located on a beautiful 152-acre campus in Northeast Georgia. Now in its 54th year, Athens Academy pursues its mission of “excellence with honor” through academics, athletics, fine arts, and service and leadership. Ranked the #1 private school in Athens and #1 private high school outside Metro Atlanta (Niche.com). Top Ten School in the State for STEM Education (Newsweek).

  For more information, please contact Kelley Cuneo, communications director, at [email protected] or 706-433-2410.