FAIRHOPE, Ala. — “I wish to yield my time to the delegate from Russia,” a high school student said Wednesday at the Fairhope Civic Center.

It was near the end of the second and final day of the Baldwin County Model United Nations 2008, where approximately 200 students from four county high schools took the role of delegates, diplomats and other leadership positions representing countries from around the world, including those of Secretary-General and President of the Model UN.

“We have to vote on the current motion before we can move on to the next questions,” another student said. “There is a motion on the floor.”

A vote was called, and the students raised cards identifying their various countries, where they sat at round tables as country delegations.

“Seeing overwhelming opposition to this motion, the motion fails,” a student said.

In City Council chambers, one of four committees was finishing up its work before it could join the General Assembly. “I’m only going to allow for two more points of information, and then we’re going to have to move on,” a student said.

Outside in the lobby, the teachers involved in the program were counting ballots the students had cast for top awards from their ranks as best speakers, diplomats and overall country delegations.

“One local City Council member dropped by yesterday and said these students could teach them a thing or two about parliamentary procedure,” one of the teachers said.

Students involved in this year’s program came from 9th- through 12th-grade International Studies classes at high schools in Robertsdale, Bay Minette, Spanish Fort and Gulf Shores.

“I began teaching International Studies in 1996, and for the past four years I have coordinated the event with the help of an organizational team made up of student leaders from each high school,” said Cynthia Erickson, of Robertsdale High School. “This class encourages exploration of international issues, topics include: emerging democracies, war, peacemaking, human rights, environmental issues and defense of nations. Through the use of simulations, resolution writing and debate, the students develop critical thinking and decision-making skills.”

The following awards were received at the close of the event: Premier Speaker: Ryan Williams (4th committee), Amy Tippet (3rd committee), Sara Frazier (2nd committee) and Kelsey Smith (1st committee);Premier Diplomat: Taylor Jackson (4th committee), Amy Tippet (3rd committee). Matt DuBois (2nd committee), and Jon-Michael Conrad (1st committee).

According to program materials, the “Premier Speaker” award was for the delegate who is exceptional at speaking in front of the committee, showing thorough knowledge of the topics being discussed, effectively represents their countries and has expert knowledge of parliamentary procedure. The “Premier Diplomat” was awarded to those who can effectively mediate between disputing parties in committee in an exceptionally diplomatic way and are also leaders in initiating resolution writing and brokering peace among committee members. The “Superior Delegation” was awarded to the delegation whose members practice diplomacy, follow decorum, show excellence in preparation and effectively represent their country.

“International Studies class gives students a unique opportunity to examine issues that affect the world,” said Sherri Killam-Williams, a Baldwin County High School teacher. “Studying world issues opens their eyes to the problems that others face. They wind up with a different perspective about the challenges faced by people in different countries.”

Erickson said the International Studies classes are offered through the gifted education programs in the various schools, where the teachers also teach other subjects such as history or English. She said the teachers involved in this year’s program also included Cynthia Means from Daphne, Rhett Tranchina from Gulf Shores and Tim Williamson from Spanish Fort.

Erickson said, “The Model United Nations is a forum for students to bring to fruition all of their hard work. The students are often better versed in current events than many adults, and these skills help prepare them to be informed adults in a complex and challenging world.”