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On Thursday, April 2, Global Scholars students at University School of Milwaukee embarked on their 14th annual crisis simulation. This year’s simulation was based on the required summer read for Global Scholars, Kieran Mulvaney’s book, “Arctic Passages.” Mulvaney visited USM in September 2025 to discuss his book with Upper School students and 8th grade science students.
Led by Upper School History Teacher and Director of Global Scholars Dr. Henry Wend, students were tasked with utilizing the resources and alliances of the countries assigned to them in a way that benefited the country in both the short and long terms. This year’s simulation illustrated the complexity of regional negotiations in the Arctic, as well as ramifications of an actor’s decisions and actions on peace and stability in the region.
This year’s simulation mirrored the real world emerging struggle for shipping routes and resources in the Arctic, as climate change affects the polar ice. The teams representing the Arctic Council and indigenous peoples squared off against non-Arctic countries with a huge stake in the resources and trade routes, for instance Russia and China. By the end of the simulation, the teams had staved off an all-out war while preparing to engage the issue of international regulation of the Arctic shipping routes, as shipping hubs pivot away from the Middle East.
Critical to the success of this year’s crisis simulation were the contributions of Upper School History Teacher Adrienne Borders, who fused the simulation’s logistics and goals with her expertise in measuring the development of global competencies among the students. Upper School Science Teacher Dr. Greg Marks directed the trajectory of the simulation, peppering the students with updates that repeatedly threw wrenches into their planning and national ambitions. Significantly, Marks’ updates always contained opportunities for the especially discerning players to work constructively towards a peaceful solution.
Team and student honors will be announced at the Global Scholars meeting on Tuesday, April 28.
