For three days last month, 10 Indian Land High School students joined peers from across the state at the 32nd Model UN Conference at Winthrop University.

This is the third year Indian Land High has participated in the event, said advisor Kay Meadows. The team won "Most Improved" at this year's conference.

"I really appreciate these kids because this is done completely on their time and they spend their own money on food, gas and hotel accommodations," Meadows said.

Seniors Nichole Shelly, Sylricka Foster, and David Rogers represented Syria and juniors Ashley Zoglman, Kelsey Gibson and Kayla Carrouth represented Lebanon.

Each student received their country assignment in the fall and had to do research on issues in their country in several categories: Social/Humanitarian, Legal and Political/Security. After the research was complete, the students and Meadows met weekly to write resolutions that were submitted for debate at the Winthrop conference.

Unlike many high schools in the area, Meadows pointed out, Indian Land's Model UN students worked on their own time, after school. The school does not have a Model UN class.

Tyler Mitchell, Ian McIntyre, Haley Rabic and AJ Gordon observed in preparation for participating next year.

"It can be pretty intimidating and chaotic to kids who haven't experienced it before and being an observer takes those concerns away so that as delegates the following year, they can concentrate on their research and resolution writing when they know what to expect," Meadows said.