Russellville High School students in the Y-Club recently participated in a Kentucky United Nations Assembly (KUNA) Conference in Louisville, March 10-12. The purpose of KUNA is for students to gain knowledge about global issues and to share those issues through committee hearings.
Y-Club members were beyond excited to receive such an enlightening opportunity, especially since it marks the first time RHS students have attended.
Senior Katie Ray Holloman said, “It’s an eye-opening experience being surrounded by young change makers all aspiring for the same goal: global change.”
The Kentucky YMCA Youth Association sponsors high school students across the state to attend the KUNA Conference. Each visiting school represents a delegation with at least one country.
The RHS students chose to represent New Zealand. The students learned about the political, social, and cultural aspects of the country and then decided on a resolution that could better serve the country. Afterwards, they were required to present and debate different resolutions. While at KUNA, students participated in one of the Program Areas at the Assembly, based on their grade level and experience.
Junior Ben Slack said, “This is a great experience for high school students in our area to learn about global affairs and how they can directly or indirectly impact and change our lives”.
Some of the resolutions are about Human Trafficking, Global Hunger, Palestinian Land, the Migration Epidemic in the Mediterranean Region, Prison Reform in Japan, and Child Sexual Abuse.
Junior Brandy West said,, “The amount of global issues we learned, and the passion showed by the students here at KUNA is astounding”.
West and Slack first learned about KUNA from students in another high school while they were taking a public speaking class at Southcentral Kentucky Community & Technical College (SKYCTC).
Students attending the conference were Ben Slack, Brandy West, My Tran, Jennifer Wilkerson, Taylor Gwynette, Allison Tatum, Marta Hughes, Madison Hyams, Cassidy Farwick, Derrick Deen, Annalee Leeman, Dakota Hamilton, Katie Ray Holloman and Trynity Dukes. The students’ leaders were Tina Shoemake and Rebecca Gwynette.