Junior nets top Model UN prize -- again

ALBANY, N.Y. (Jan. 23, 2012) -- For the second year in a row, Albany High School junior June Criscione took the top prize for her section at the Vancouver Model United Nations.

The 2012 Vancouver Model UN was held Jan. 20-22. Model UN is a student simulation of the real UN; each participating student is assigned to represent a country and debate issues facing it and the global community.

Criscione, representing Portugal, served as a delegate to the model World Trade Organization committee, a group of countries seeking to supervise international trade and remove barriers to free trade. She was named best delegate for her 200-person section, earning a Golden Gavel, the top award. The gavel will be the second in her collection; she was top delegate at last year's Vancouver Model UN as well.

Criscione's colleagues included 11 other Albany High classmates and students from 90 schools throughout Canada and the United States. Fellow classmate Zilpa Oduor, a sophomore, was named an outstanding delegate for her work representing Albania on the World Health Organization committee.

Pictured at right are Criscione, left, and Oduor, in Vancouver. Other Albany High students that went to Vancouver are Michael Allinger, Ryah Bernhardt, Aaron Gialnella, Katie Huemer, Kevin Ho, Gregory John, Jessica Ren, Allane Roc and Theresa Rubi and Anmol Sharma.

The mission of the City School District of Albany is to educate and nurture all students to be responsible citizens, critical thinkers and lifelong learners to successfully compete in the global community by providing an academically rigorous and safe environment in partnership with parents, students and the community. The district serves about 8,700 students in 15 elementary, middle and high schools. In addition to neighborhood schools, the district includes several magnet schools and programs, as well as other innovative academic opportunities for students, including four themed academies at Albany High School.