Six members of the Bronx River High School debate team are stepping beyond the classroom and into the world of international diplomacy as they attend the WEMUN New York Model United Nations conference from Feb. 10 to Feb. 13.

WEMUN New York is recognized as the largest Model UN conference in the world, bringing together students from across the country and around the globe. Participants debate global issues, form alliances, draft resolutions and vote on solutions while representing assigned countries.

This year marks Bronx River’s first time being invited to participate. The team will represent the country of Belize, speaking and negotiating from that nation’s perspective.

Debate and English teacher Daniel Butler, who serves as the team’s coach, explained that students had to submit position papers in order to be considered for one of the six available spots.

“They had to write position papers to show that they were interested and had background knowledge on Belize,” he said. “It showed perseverance and commitment.”

The six students selected to attend are Lily Lopez, Ariana Gonzalez, Oliver Rivera, Matthew Hardy, Destiny Soriano and Layla Batista.

According to Mr. Butler, preparation time was limited. The team received confirmation in January and had about two weeks to prepare before the four-day conference. “Part of it is really just going and experiencing it,” Mr. Butler said. “You can only prepare so much. After that, it’s about confidence and learning as much as you can.”

During the conference, students will negotiate with other countries and help draft and vote on resolutions. As representatives of a smaller nation like Belize, Mr. Butler said the team will focus heavily on negotiation.

Mr. Butler also emphasized that the experience is about development as much as competition.

“It’s a high-intensity event, but it’s also about personal growth,” he said. “Maybe one student sets a goal to speak once this year. Next year, they might push themselves to speak more.”

Assistant Principal Tene Kelly shared her excitement about the opportunity, noting that she participated in Model UN during college.

“I had a really good experience,” Ms. Kelly said. “I got to travel, meet people from different schools and learn about global issues. I have really good memories of participating in Model UN and all the opportunities it gave me.”

“We live in the city where the United Nations is located,” she added. “It’s a unique opportunity to represent our city at a conference that includes people from all over the world.”

With limited preparation time but high enthusiasm, the conference gives students the opportunity to step into the role of world leaders, build confidence and experience global diplomacy firsthand. For Bronx River’s debate team, the trip could mark the start of a new tradition.