October 11, 2023: International Diplomacy Simulation

On October 11, Blackhawk students attended an International Diplomacy Simulation created by the U.S. Department of State and hosted by South Side High School at the Beaver Valley Intermediate Unit.

Led by South Side teachers, the students represented various foreign stakeholders in a nuclear proliferation crisis, including fictitious nations and real-life non-governmental organizations.

“It was interesting to take a look at international diplomacy,” said Andrew Woods ’24, whose delegation represented Terra Nova, a fictitious country embroiled in the dispute.

Working with students other Beaver County schools, Blackhawk students negotiated a real-world solution to a simulated nuclear crisis.

“I found it very useful to negotiate and simultaneously work with others,” said John Cosky ’24, who represented the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Following the exercise, the students voted on the most effective group, with the award going to the U.S. Department of State, whose delegates included Sofia Heimel ’24. “It was pretty cool to see everyone have their own opinions and communicate to come to a general decision for the best,” she said.

All three students found the event to be a valuable educational experience, and expressed an interest in establishing a model United Nations program in Beaver County.

You can read more about the program here.

Pictured in the group photo at top: John Cosky ’24, Sofia Heimel ’24, Andrew Woods ’24