Four members of Pioneer Academy's Model UN team competed in the largest Model UN competition in the nation last week. For four days, students represented the small island nation of Tuvalu at the National High School Model United Nations Conference 2017. The opening ceremonies began with a keynote address from General David Petraeus, who discussed the importance of leadership and diplomacy.For the remainder of the conference, students joined in committee sessions discussing some of the most important topics facing the world today. Students were able to engage in stimulating sessions with their peers from all over the world (six contents and over forty different countries).Thursday morning, students met with the Tuvaluan Ambassador Aunese Makoi Simati to the United Nations, in an hourlong discussion at the Tuvalu Embassy on the impact of climate change on Tuvalu and other nations.The conference concluded with the final session being held in the prestigious General Assembly Hall of the United Nations, where our students were able to hear the importance of the work of the UN by the Under Secretary General of Public Information, Ms. Cristina Gallach. The conference was capped off by speeches given by singer Demi Lovato, actor Mandy Patinkin, and actor Joe Manganiello on the 2030 UN Development Goals and the significance of youth leadership.Please congratulate Fatih Yanik, Babak Akhundov, Hakan Ersan, and Osman Conger on their hard-work and representing Pioneer Academy in a fine way.We hope to continue this new found tradition at Pioneer next year!