** Three SABIS Students from Lebanon Selected as Delegates to Model UN Conference in New York **

May 17, 2013 Contact Name: Ms. Amy Wesley Email: awesley@sabis.net For Immediate Release Three students from SABIS member schools will be part of an elite delegation of students from Lebanon who will be heading to New York, U.S. to participate in the Model United Nations Conference from May 14-20, 2013. Farah Alloush (Grade 11, ISC-Koura), Emmanuel Bassil (Grade 10, SIS-Adma) and Ziad Rifi (Grade 11, ISC-Koura) were selected from among 1,800 students at 121 schools to be part of the final delegation of six students from Lebanon. What an amazing achievement said Ms. Chanel Stewart, School Director at SIS-Adma. Students from SABIS schools in Lebanon make up 50% of the final official delegationthat is quite remarkable. In Lebanon, 121 schools, including SABIS member schools, participated in the Model United Nations program. Over 1,800 students signed up for the program, of which only 120 were selected to participate in the Mock Simulation that took place in Lebanon. The delegates were further reduced to a select 16, who proceeded to the final interview stage. Of those selected, only 6 were chosen to go through to the final round. The final selection process was based on students aptitude in public speaking, general presentation skills, and fluency in English in addition to their ability to be courteous, innovative, and charismatic. The Model United Nations Program is an international program that is available to students in almost every country around the world. The Model United Nations Conference is an academic simulation of the United Nations that aims to educate participants about current events, topics in international relations, diplomacy and the United Nations agenda. Students from participating schools role-play as diplomats representing a country or NGO in a simulated session of a committee of the United Nations, such as the Security Council or the General Assembly. Participants research a country, take on roles as diplomats, investigate international issues, debate, deliberate, consult, and develop solutions to world problems. The experience is an opportunity for young students to increase their awareness about the United Nations and practice and hone their presentation, public speaking, role play, and research skills. During their stay in New York, the delegation will visit the United Nations Headquarters, where they will meet Ban-Ki Moon, Secretary General of the UN, who will address them and introduce them to the program before the debating sessions begin. While in New York, the delegation from Lebanon will be paired with a delegation from the state of New York to help them get better acquainted with the city and fellow delegates. SABIS is very proud of its delegations performance, said Ms. Nabila Maaluf - School Director at ISCKoura. In addition to making the final 6, our delegation also won 1 Secretary General Award, 4 Diplomacy Awards, and 2 Position Paper Awards as part of the selection process. Our students have continually demonstrated that their hard work and commitment to high standards in all that they do can reap rewards. For more information on SABIS member schools in Lebanon, visit www.isckoura-sabis.net, www.isclebsabis.net, and www.sisadma-sabis.net. For more information about the SABIS School Network, visit www.sabis.net. ###

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