Model UN team travels to New York City for NHSMUN conference

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The Model United Nations (MUN) team traveled to New York City to compete in the National High School Model United Nations (NHSMUN) Conference. After landing, they visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET). They completed AP U.S. History teacher Mr. Mark Gruskin’s scavenger hunt where they had to find specific paintings based on the artist, subject matter or time period. (Photos/Anya Pinto)
Students visited St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Midtown Manhattan to observe the intricate architecture and stained glass windows. (Photos/Anya Pinto and Aurora Lai)
Later, the group walked to the New York Public Library which was built over 100 years ago and is still one of the largest libraries in the world. Students visited the Rose Reading Room which featured detailed artwork and design. (Photos/Anya Pinto and Sofia Toledo)
A trip to New York City would not be complete without a walk through Central Park. “The simple atmosphere and aura that I felt just walking down the grass pathways of Central Park was extraordinary. My favorite part was the view: a safe haven of earth hidden amongst a valley of metal and concrete. Truly a magical experience,” junior Asher Lee said. (Photos/Zaara Lacewala, Aurora Lai and Emilin Mathew)
Club co-advisor and AP European History teacher Mrs. Marjorie Milam enjoyed her lunch with Mr. Gruskin at a New York deli. Between committee sessions, the group enjoyed tacos and quesadillas from a Mexican food truck and went sightseeing. They visited the Rockefeller Center, the MET and the Washington Square Arch. (Photos/Consuelo Phelan, Emilin Mathew and Anya Pinto)
25 students won awards, contributing to American Heritage’s overall Award of Distinction at NHSMUN 2022. Mr. Gruskin and Ms. Alexandra Stahlschmidt attended the ceremony along with all student participants. Zaara Lacewala, Andres Teixeira Fereirra, Odin Farkas and Emilin Mathew spoke at the awards and closing ceremony. (Photos/Ava Exelbirt and Sophia Mora Ortega)

Now a senior at American Heritage, Anya returns as Editor-in-Chief of the Patriot Post. With her passion for journalism, she is Co-President of the Quill and Scroll Honor Society. She started an organization called “ActionPAKT: Projects Advocating for a Kinder Tomorrow” to educate youth about current issues and help them take action; currently, she has expanded it to 15+ chapters in multiple countries, raising $17,000 within the Heritage chapter itself. As a Youth Ambassador for Bullets4Life, Anya advocates for gun control. She leads the top Model UN program in the nation as President, competing nationally and organizing conferences at school. To relax, Anya hangs out with friends, swims, goes on walks and binge watches Netflix. She loves the beach, good food and her lazy little dog Simba more than anything.