Penn Students Reaching For The UN

United World Club at William Penn University pose for a photo at Sunday's silent auction and luncheon

Oskaloosa, Iowa – Learning to be a part of the global community is the ambition of one group of William Penn students.

A dinner and silent auction are one of the final fundraisers the group is doing in order to be part of Model U.N.

For those unfamiliar with Model U.N., it’s a mock United Nations with multiple schools from around the country heading for New York to participate. There students learn how to debate.

Jaime Rivera, President of the United World Club at William Penn University, said that the group was assigned a country and will have delegates representing that country.

The group had to raise $11,000 to make the trip. “We were going to fly, but that would be more expensive”, says Rivera.

Rivera said that they have raised nearly 75% of the needed funds to this point.

Omira Gibens, the group’s adviser, made and designed nearly a dozen custom-themed baskets that attendees bid on during the day-long silent auction, including one real love bird from Fins ‘N Things in Oskaloosa.

With 60 meal tickets sold, guests were served a Cuban Pulled Pork Sandwich, Venezuelan Potato Salad, baked beans, assorted fresh veggies with dip, and fresh fruit that could be dipped in a chocolate fountain. Tea and lemonade were available to help wash it down.

Those businesses that helped the group with donations are: Des Moines Menace, Fins ‘N Things, George Daily Auditorium, Hy-Vee, Hunters Gifts & Cafe, KFC, Mahaska Drug, Oskaloosa Chamber of Commerce, Pizza Hut, Subway, Sodexo, Wm. Penn Univ. Bookstore.