Clinton Public School District
Robert Chapman
During the first week of April, students from CHS, Sumner Hill and Clinton Jr. High School attended the 2025 Mississippi Model United Nations Conference and the Mississippi Junior Youth Assembly held at the Old Capitol Museum in Jackson where they had the chance to grow in knowledge and as leaders.
The annual spring conferences are part of a slate of youth leadership programs organized by LEAD Mississippi, an organization of volunteers dedicated to promoting servant leadership opportunities to public and private school students from across the state of Mississippi.
At the conferences, students learn about public policy, elections and the law making processes used in establishing laws and global governments. Students with Clinton High School and Sumner Hill participated in the Mississippi Model United Nations were tasked with preparing proposals to present to designated Model UN delegates from a variety of schools from around Mississippi.
CHS history teacher and Youth in Government Club sponsor Emily Stringham said her students excelled at stating their proposals, answering questions and engaging in strong debates in order to push their 17 proposals forward.
“All 17 proposals presented by CHS passed with overwhelming majorities,” Stringham said. “Our students were recognized for their achievements and received 13 awards.”
Stringham said the conference allowed Clinton High School’s students to display their intelligence and maturity as well as show what it means to truly be a team.
“I have never been so impressed with a group of young people as they demonstrated exemplary behavior, communication skills and initiative,” she said. “They were able to display their passion for world issues and drive for learning in a formalized setting, and it was an honor to watch them flourish.”
Sumner Hill students also participated in the event, earning awards for Outstanding Native Attire, Outstanding Diplomats and Outstanding Country Representation.
Freshman Cheyenne Murray was recognized as the conference's Most Outstanding Diplomat, and Deeya Sharma and Kennedy Denson were recognized with the Most Outstanding Country Representation award.
Three Sumner Hill students were elected to serve as leaders in the 2026 Model United Nations.
Legend Gavin was elected as Chief Justice of the International Court of Justice. Cheyenne Murray was elected as President of the Economic and Social Council, and Gina Robinson was elected as Secretary General of the Model United Nations.
These three ninth graders made Mississippi Model UN history becoming the first freshmen ever elected to serve in these positions.
Clinton Junior High students participated in the Mississippi Junior Youth Assembly Conference, where they took on the roles of state legislators and experienced the bill making process of our state. Each student legislator authored a bill and debated it through the committee and chamber meetings in hopes of having it “passed into law.” These seventh and eighth grade students participated in committee discussions and debates, helping to write amendments, refine laws and advocate for legislation to be presented in the larger meetings of the House and Senate.
Several Clinton students served in leadership roles at the Junior Youth Assembly conference. Clinton High School Junior Cullen Lay served as the Youth Governor, having been elected at the Senior High version of the conference last November.
His Governor’s staff was made up of several students from Clinton High School, with Greer Vincent, Saylor Bynum, Reeves Radicioni and Levi Cook advising the Governor on legislation that made it to his desk. CJHS students Colton Lay and Jane Sinclair served as Committee Chairman.
CJHS Youth Legislature sponsor and seventh grade social studies teacher Will Harvey said the event offered a healthy environment where students were challenged to think critically, requiring them to speak with confidence in a group consisting of students up to five years older than them.
“Watching them advocate for ideas they care about and realize they have a voice in shaping the future was incredibly rewarding,” Harvey said.
He said the conference has sparked a desire in CJHS students to return in 2026. “That eagerness to return and continue to grow is what makes this trip so meaningful to me.”
LEAD Mississippi conferences have allowed students to meet face to face with elected officials such as Gov. Tate Reeves, Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann, U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, former Mississippi Speaker of the House Phillip Gunn and District 56 Representative Clay Mansell.
With current conference participants from Southaven to the Mississippi Gulf Coast, each year continues to expand the reach and participation of more schools and students. Conference highlights can be found on LEAD Mississippi’s Instagram page, @l.e.a.d.mississippi.Awards for the 2025 Mississippi Model UN are listed below:
Delegation Award
- Myles Manuel (CHS)
- Kennedy Denson (Sumner Hill)
- Cheyenne Murray (Sumner Hill)
Most Outstanding Diplomat
- Cheyenne Murray (Sumner Hill)
Outstanding Diplomats
- Alana Turner (CHS)
- Jackson Carter (CHS)
- Owen Coker (CHS)
- Rikki Williams (CHS)
- Zoe Gordon (CHS)
- Aashrita Cheruku (CHS)
- De’syri Addison (Sumner Hill)
- Gina Robinson (Sumner Hill)
- Jayla Hicks (Sumner Hill)
- Legend Gavin (Sumner Hill)
Most Outstanding Country Representation
- Deeya Sharma (Sumner Hill)
- Kennedy Denson (Sumner Hill)
Outstanding Country Representative
- Joseph Smith (CHS)
- Ian Davis (CHS)
- Brahmleen Kaur (Sumner Hill)
- Sakshi Kumari (Sumner Hill)
- Cheyenne Murray (Sumner Hill)
- Kennedy Denson (Sumner Hill)
Most Outstanding Country Displays
- Joya Smith & Rebecca Ukele—Mexico (CHS)
- Zoe Gordon—Haiti (CHS)
- Alana Turner—Switzerland (CHS)
- Jeniah Williams—Saudi Arabia (CHS)
Outstanding Native Attire
- Sakshi Kumari—India (Sumner Hill)
- Brahmleen Kaur—India (Sumner Hill)
Mississippi Junior Youth Assembly Awards
- Meryl Babu—Delegation Award
- Presley Mitchell—Outstanding Senator
- Colton Lay—Outstanding Representative
- Elijah Ricks—Outstanding Representative