H*4032 Concurrent Resolution, By Lourie, Allen, Allison, Altman, Askins, Bailey, 
Bales, Barfield, Barrett, Battle, Beck, Bowers, Breeland, G. Brown, H. Brown, 
J. Brown, T. Brown, Campsen, Canty, Carnell, Cato, Chellis, Clyburn, 
Cobb-Hunter, Cooper, Cotty, Dantzler, Davenport, Delleney, Easterday, Edge, 
Emory, Fleming, Gamble, Gilham, Gourdine, Govan, Hamilton, Harrell, Harris, 
Harrison, Harvin, Haskins, Hawkins, Hayes, J. Hines, M. Hines, Hinson, Howard, 
Inabinett, Jennings, Keegan, Kelley, Kennedy, Kirsh, Klauber, Knotts, Koon, 
Lanford, Law, Leach, Lee, Limehouse, Littlejohn, Lloyd, Loftis, Lucas, Mack, 
Maddox, Martin, Mason, McCraw, McGee, McKay, M. McLeod, W. McLeod, McMahand, 
Meacham, Miller, Moody-Lawrence, J.H. Neal, Neilson, Ott, Parks, Phillips, 
Pinckney, Quinn, Rhoad, Rice, Riser, Robinson, Rodgers, Rutherford, Sandifer, 
Scott, Seithel, Sharpe, Sheheen, Simrill, D. Smith, F. Smith, J. Smith, 
R. Smith, Stille, Stuart, Taylor, Townsend, Tripp, Trotter, Vaughn, Walker, 
Webb, Whatley, Whipper, Wilder, Wilkes, Wilkins, Witherspoon, Woodrum and 
Young-Brickell
 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO EXTEND THE BEST WISHES AND HEARTFELT
 CONGRATULATIONS OF THE MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF SOUTH
 CAROLINA TO THE RICHLAND NORTHEAST HIGH SCHOOL'S MODEL UNITED NATIONS TEAM AND
 THEIR FACULTY ADVISER AND SPONSOR, MS. LYN WASHINGTON, ON CAPTURING THE FIRST
 PLACE GOLD MEDAL AWARD OF DISTINCTION AT THE NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL MODEL UNITED
 NATIONS CONFERENCE HELD ANNUALLY IN NEW YORK CITY.

   05/04/99  House  Introduced, adopted, sent to Senate HJ-14
   05/05/99  Senate Introduced, adopted, returned with concurrence SJ-6

TO EXTEND THE BEST WISHES AND HEARTFELT CONGRATULATIONS OF THE MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA TO THE RICHLAND NORTHEAST HIGH SCHOOL'S MODEL UNITED NATIONS TEAM AND THEIR FACULTY ADVISER AND SPONSOR, MS. LYN WASHINGTON, ON CAPTURING THE FIRST PLACE GOLD MEDAL AWARD OF DISTINCTION AT THE NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL MODEL UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE HELD ANNUALLY IN NEW YORK CITY.

Whereas, the General Assembly is proud to learn that the Richland Northeast High School's Model United Nations Team has once again won the First Place Gold Medal Award of Distinction - for ten years the Richland Northeast team has placed first; and

Whereas, Richland Northeast has attended the National High School Model United Nations Conference for fifteen years - winning 11 first places and 3 second places; and

Whereas, there were two thousand three hundred students attending from thirty-eight states and eight foreign countries; and

Whereas, twenty-four members of the Richland Northeast High School's Model United Nations Team left Columbia on March 23, 1999, expecting their most memorable experience away from home to be a fight to continue the school's nine-year streak of first-places in the international competition; and

Whereas, the team supports itself with fundraisers and donations. This year it raised sixteen thousand dollars by providing concessions for a horse show, washing cars, and writing letters asking for donations; and

Whereas, in the competition, the students act as United Nations Delegates, using what they know about the country they "represent" to develop political coalitions and pass resolutions that best serve the interests of their constituents. This year, the Richland Northeast team represented Germany on sixteen committees in the competition, a mock session in which students act as delegates working toward consensus on international political issues; and

Whereas, the committees tackle economic, social, cultural, and humanitarian issues; decolonization; trade and development; international law; the environment; drug control; and disarmament; and

Whereas, the team members include: Matt Stover; David Sohn; Kiva Wilson; Takina Holloman; Hank Hyatt; Sheena Lazenby; Paige Orman; Leah Greenberg; Stanford Park; Chris Allen; Beth Poliakoff; Amanda Colgate; Andrew Friedman; James Pineda; Erika Sontroem; Ben Hogan; Kathryn Dail; Brigette Lindsey; Katherine Anderson; Scott Barnes; Justin Moody; Patrick Duff; Emily Walker; and Leslie Ann Brooks; and

Whereas, their faculty adviser and sponsor for twenty years, Lyn Washington, also was honored by receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Model United Nations Association, a nongovernmental organization of the United Nations whose purpose is international education. Ms. Washington has served on their board of directors for seven years; held a national teachers conference on using simulations; developed a video on Model U.N.; and chaired the board for one year; and

Whereas, the team also brought home the school's thirteenth research award, given to the team that presents the most thorough research of the country it represents. The research award is a touch of irony for the team who traditionally has been at a disadvantage because the closest U.N.. depository is four hours away in Chapel Hill, North Carolina; and

Whereas, the national conference isn't the first one the Richland Northeast team competed in this year. It also competed in November against eight hundred students at a conference at the University of Virginia, and against one thousand four hundred students in February at the fifteenth annual Ivy League Model U.N. Conference at the University of Pennsylvania. At this conference, Richland Northeast won the Ben Franklin Cup for overall participation and was named the best large high school in the competition. In addition, twenty-seven students took home individual speaking awards, and all received top honors for position papers; and

Whereas, it seems fitting for the General Assembly to pause in their deliberations to honor this fine group of competitors, along with their adviser and sponsor, Ms. Lyn Washington, and wish them the very best in all their future endeavors. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:

That the members of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, by this resolution, extend their best wishes and heartfelt congratulations to the Richland Northeast High School's Model United Nations Team and their faculty adviser and sponsor, Ms. Lyn Washington, on capturing the First Place Gold Medal Award of Distinction at the National High School Model United Nations Conference held annually in New York City.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Ms. Lyn Washington.