While the Democratic and Republican presidential candidates battle it out for their parties’ nominations, the Wilton High School Model Congress students participated for four days (Feb. 18-21) at the 2016 Harvard Model Congress Conference. More than 1,600 students from across the United States ventured to Boston in order to participate in a U.S. government competition/simulation. The Wilton High School Model Congress Students have made the Harvard competition an annual event, and were once again successful in their time there.
After four days of intense debate and compromises, the Wilton Model Congress students, led by their advisor and teacher, Kenneth Dunaj, were recognized for their outstanding performances. Six Wilton students were recognized for their ability to formulate original legislation; portray actual members of the U.S. Senate, House of Representatives, and the G-20; and participate in a historical simulation of World War I.
One of the students, Cameron Berg, was even assigned the persona of current presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders. According to his teammates, Berg’s impersonation “gives actor Larry David a run for his money.”
The Wilton High School Model Congress students have become a perennial powerhouse when attending conferences such as Harvard and Yale. Not only did the students work from the early morning to late at night crafting language, delivering speeches, and making compromises in order to see their policies pass their committees and full chambers, but several were recognized for their achievements during their time at Harvard Model Congress:
Jessica Kobsa, Distinguished Delegate Award (Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry)
Cameron Berg, Distinguished Delegate Award (Senate Armed Services Committee)
Perry J. Seelert, Distinguished Delegate Award (Senate Judiciary Committee)
Randolph Ramirez, Honorable Mention (Senate Homeland Security Committee)
Michael Wallace, Honorable Mention (Senate Select Committee on Intelligence)
Julia Erardi, Honorable Mention (Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions)
