Special to The Clinton Courier

Students from Clinton High School (CHS), Sumner Hill Junior High School and Clinton Junior High School (CJHS) recently attended the 2025 Mississippi Model United Nations (UN) conference and the Mississippi Junior Youth Assembly.

The annual spring conferences are part of a slate of youth leadership programs organized by LEAD Mississippi, an organization of volunteers dedicated to promoting servant leadership opportunities to public and private school students from across the state of Mississippi.

At the conferences, students learn about public policy, elections and the law-making processes used in establishing laws and global governments. Students with CHS and Sumner Hill who participated in the Mississippi Model UN were tasked with preparing proposals to present to designated Model UN delegates from a variety of schools from around Mississippi.

CHS history teacher and Youth in Government Club sponsor Emily Stringham said her students excelled at stating their proposals, answering questions and engaging in strong debates in order to push their seventeen proposals forward.

“All seventeen proposals presented by CHS passed with overwhelming majorities,” Stringham said. “Our students were recognized for their achievements and received thirteen awards.”

Stringham said the conference allowed Clinton High School’s students to display their intelligence and maturity, as well as show what it means to truly be a team.

“I have never been so impressed with a group of young people as they demonstrated exemplary behavior, communication skills and initiative,” she said. “They were able to display their passion for world issues and drive for learning in a formalized setting, and it was an honor to watch them flourish.”

Sumner Hill students also participated in the event, earning awards for Outstanding Native Attire, Outstanding Diplomats and Outstanding Country Representation.

Freshman Cheyenne Murray was recognized as the conference’s Most Outstanding Diplomat, and Deeya Sharma and Kennedy Denson were recognized with the Most Outstanding Country Representation award.

Three Sumner Hill students were elected to serve as leaders in the 2026 Model United Nations, making history as the first freshmen ever elected to serve in the positions.

Legend Gavin was elected as Chief Justice of the International Court of Justice. Murray was elected as President of the Economic and Social Council, and Gina Robinson was elected as Secretary General of the Model UN.

CJHS students participated in the Mississippi Junior Youth Assembly Conference, where they took on the roles of state legislators and experienced the bill making process.  Each student legislator authored a bill and debated it through the committee and chamber meetings in hopes of having it “passed into law.”

Several Clinton students served in leadership roles at the Junior Youth Assembly conference.  CHS junior Cullen Lay served as the Youth Governor, having been elected at the senior high version of the conference last November.

His Governor’s staff was made up of several students from CHS, with Greer Vincent, Saylor Bynum, Reeves Radicioni and Levi Cook advising the Governor on legislation that made it to his desk. CJHS students Colton Lay and Jane Sinclair served as Committee Chairman.

CJHS Youth Legislature sponsor and seventh grade social studies teacher Will Harvey said the event offered a healthy environment where students were challenged to think critically, requiring them to speak with confidence in a group consisting of students up to five years older than them.

“Watching them advocate for ideas they care about and realize they have a voice in shaping the future was incredibly rewarding,” Harvey said.

He said the conference has sparked a desire in CJHS students to return in 2026.

“That eagerness to return and continue to grow is what makes this trip so meaningful to me.”

SIDEBAR:

Awards for the 2025 Mississippi Model UN included:

Delegation Award

Myles Manuel (CHS), Kennedy Denson and Cheyenne Murray (Sumner Hill)

Most Outstanding Diplomat

Cheyenne Murray (Sumner Hill)

Outstanding Diplomats

Alana Turner, Jackson Carter, Owen Coker, Rikki Williams, Zoe Gordon and Aashrita Cheruku (CHS); and De’syri Addison, Gina Robinson, Jayla Hicks and Legend Gavin (Sumner Hill)

Most Outstanding Country Representation

Deeya Sharma and Kennedy Denson (Sumner Hill)

Outstanding Country Representative

Joseph Smith and Ian Davis (CHS); and Brahmleen Kaur, Sakshi Kumari, Cheyenne Murray and Kennedy Denson (Sumner Hill)

Most Outstanding Country Displays

Joya Smith and Rebecca Ukele—Mexico, Zoe Gordon—Haiti, Alana Turner—Switzerland and Jeniah Williams—Saudi Arabia (CHS)

Outstanding Native Attire

Sakshi Kumari—India and Brahmleen Kaur—India (Sumner Hill)

Mississippi Junior Youth Assembly Awards

Meryl Babu—Delegation Award, Presley Mitchell—Outstanding Senator, Colton Lay—Outstanding Representative and Elijah Ricks—Outstanding Representative