Local high school students are showing they know a thing or two about international diplomacy.

Fort Mill, Nation Ford and Indian Land high school Model U. N. teams all participated in the recent 32nd annual Winthrop Model United Nations conference and FMHS brought home several awards.

Students from Fort Mill won the 2008 Geoffrey Bruce Award that goes to the team that acts most in character with the country it represents. One of the three delegations Fort Mill sent played the part of the U.S. and took home the award. Several Fort Mill students were also singled out for individual awards.

A Fort Mill team represented Syria and one from Indian Land represented Lebanon.

Fort Mill's Veronica Martinez was recognized as a top performer in the Legal Committee. Daniel Koverman received recognition as a standout in the Political and Security Committee. Among the Social and Humanitarian Committee participants, Kristin Archie was also singled out.

Indian Land and Nation Ford high schools, both in their first year of Model U.N., also sent delegations to the conference, though neither won any awards. For both schools, it was more a learning experience and preparation for years to come.

"Fort Mill High's name has been on the trophy at Winthrop several times," Nation Ford Model U.N. faculty advisor Brendan Wright said. "Since the Nation Ford split we've continued the tradition."

Nation Ford became the district's second high school when it opened this year.

Fort Mill high teacher Scott Kosanski started the Fort Mill Model U.N. as a club activity 15 years ago. It has since evolved into a full fledged class offering at Fort Mill High, Wright said. Though it is still a club at Nation Ford, Wright expects it to become a class there, too.

At the conference the delegations are assigned a country to represent. The members are responsible for researching their country and playing the part of its diplomats. Nation Ford got Canada.

"They had to represent their views and act in their character," Wright said.

Nation Ford had four students involved in Model U.N. this year, enough for one delegation. Wright said he hopes in coming years to find more students interested in the organization, and believes offering an actual Model U.N. course at the school will help recruiting.

"Dozens of schools sent multiple delegations," he said. "Fort Mill sent three."