Throughout the year, members of Lampeter-Strasburg High School's Model United Nations (MUN) club attend conferences to compete against MUN clubs from other schools. The conferences serve as opportunities to for students to debate modern issues and learn about global politics. At the conference in March, Lampeter-Strasburg's MUN club came away with five awards, and the club currently leads the Susquehanna Valley MUN chapter.

During each conference, students are assigned to five committees: the General Assembly, the Security Council, the strategic response committee, World Health Organization and the historical crisis committee. As the participants debate a real-life global issue, each student represents a different nation, approaching the conflict from the perspective of his or her assigned country and committee. At the last conference, students' discussion topic was the regulation of drone warfare. The students' goal is to win support for their side of the issue, which they attempt through debate, writing position papers and negotiating with other representatives. A total of four to five awards are then given to committees based on the students' ability to build a consensus or demonstrate aptitude as statesmen.

"We take the perspective of those who are struggling and different political systems, which teaches you to be less provincial in your thinking," said senior Braden Weese, president of the MUN club at Lampeter Strasburg High School. "Being able to step outside of our American viewpoint is very valuable." Weese has been a member of MUN since he was a freshman, although he said that he has always been passionate about politics and debate. Weese credits MUN with improving his public speaking and debating skills and added that he believes his experience will serve him well after he graduates. Weese plans to attend college with the goal of becoming a criminal defense lawyer.

Members of the Lampeter-Strasburg MUN meet every two weeks to hold practice sessions and prepare for conferences, and Lampeter-Strasburg High School's club is run by social studies teachers Adam Titter and Lindsey Shehan. Although students are not allowed to draft the papers that they will present at conferences ahead of time, many use the meetings as an opportunity to research their topics and debate each other. "I've learned to understand parliamentary procedures and learned so many different viewpoints, which is the neatest part," said senior Maggie Swarr, vice president of the club. "You have to get behind what you're bringing to the table, and you have to be strong-willed." Swarr plans to study architecture after high school, and she added that MUN has taught her how to be confident with public speaking and how to express her point of view.

Some members of MUN, such as junior Maddie Ross, said that the club has helped them work through nervousness when public speaking in addition to being introduced to new perspectives. "I can be a super stubborn person, but being able to see that other people hold their viewpoints for a reason is so important and will help me wherever I go," Ross said.