This preview has been provided by Alison Vandenburgh, Communications Director at The Walsh Exchange. 

All across the nation, international relations experts and enthusiasts alike gather to discuss the world’s events, past, present, and yet to come. You may be cast as the prime minister of France, or as a representative from a lesser known African republic. Whatever the role, Model UN students take on the world’s toughest problems and come up with some surprising, unique results. And behind these real-world applications is groundbreaking research, whether it is on international relations theory, how international institutions shape today’s society, or enlightening comparisons between two seemingly disparate locales. The top delegates participating in conferences publicized by this site are also some of the stars of the government or international affairs departments at their respective universities, and writing some of the most promising theses.

But, while success in assemblies or committees is widely recognized, this other, more academic side has been left isolated or even unrecognized. Until now.  For the first time ever, we are creating a forum for the top students to showcase their work. We are pleased to introduce the Walsh Exchange, an undergraduate international relations research conference being inaugurated this April at Georgetown University in Washington DC. Focusing on the three broad themes of international institutions, international politics and security, and area studies, the Walsh Exchange will help top students in IR gain greater exposure for their research as well as the experience of presenting in a formal conference setting. Organized like an academic research conference, participants will present their papers and receive feedback from Georgetown’s renowned faculty and from other conference participants. Outside of paper presentations we will also host a keynote lecture and a reception where participants will interact with each other and network with DC area thought leaders.

With its position at Georgetown University, the home of the America’s first foreign service school and a university renowned for its international focus, the Walsh Exchange aspires to inspire new dialogue amongst top IR undergrads and show the world of international relations what the next generation of IR scholars is passionate about. If meeting the best of your peers, presenting and publishing your research, and learning from top IR theorists and practitioners appeals to you, apply now.

To learn more about the Walsh Exchange, and to see our official call for papers, visit us at www.walshex.org

THIMUN takes place in The Hague

The Best Delegate team visited THIMUN and THIMUN Singapore earlier this year and we learned a lot from those conferences that we’ll surely share in future posts and as we speak with other teachers around the world. However, we do get questions from North American schools that are curious to attend THIMUN-affiliated conferences or are looking for conferences abroad in general, so we wanted to point out ten key differences between the THIMUN model and the typical MUN conference in North America.

1. THIMUN is run by the THIMUN Foundation. The THIMUN Foundation is a non-profit that is led by educators and helps organize the conferences every year plus provide support and affiliation status to other conferences. THIMUN conferences therefore are standardized, focus on education, and of very high quality because feedback on the conferences doesn’t get lost.

2. There are THIMUN-affiliated conferences. Besides THIMUN, THIMUN Singapore, and THIMUN Qatar, there are many THIMUN-affiliated conferences (see the list below). All these conferences have met the requirements for affiliation and will offer the standardized rules of procedure, debate style, professionalism, and culture of the THIMUN conference. This standard makes it easy to prepare for all THIMUN-affiliated conferences whereas in North America, every conference has slightly different rules and different cultures and emphases.

3. There are no awards. THIMUN is meant to be purely educational and there are no awards. Students enjoy Model UN for the experience. Although the conference does not have awards, delegates are still on policy and the quality of debate is very high. Many participants consider being named the main submitter (sponsor) to be the highest honor at a conference, and many main submitters go on to be rewarded with positions as staffers at these conferences. Students should leave the competitive mindset of American conferences behind when they go to THIMUN.

4. The conferences are much more international. The vast majority of schools that attend THIMUN-affiliated conferences are international schools, and it takes international schools from multiple countries in order to reach to the size beyond a small conference. These factors inherently make the conference much more international in terms of participant background. Oftentimes, there is no country that sends a majority of the delegates, and sometimes it’s even hard to tell which country sent a plurality of delegates. Students will be able to make friends from around the world at THIMUN conferences.

5. Conferences are staffed by high school students. All the THIMUN conferences are staffed by high school students. This is a huge contrast to North American conferences where college students staff all the conferences besides the ones hosted by high schools. These high school students are very experienced though — they’ve typically been main submitters and see staffing as part of their Model UN career — and North American teachers may be surprised at how well these students can maintain decorum better than many college staffers can.

6. There are Youth Assemblies. Youth Assemblies are essentially committees where students represent themselves and discuss how to create and implement real solutions to real problems that they can bring back to their local communities. There are often projects and presentations; they are not meant to be a simulation like Model UN. This gives students a chance to take action now.

7. Conferences are much more strict and formal. THIMUN conferences are much more formal in proceeding and much more strict on proper rules of procedure. Students are very disciplined and very respectful of the speakers during the Opening/Closing ceremonies and General Assembly Plenary sessions. Delegates also tend to be much more professionally dressed than their North American counterparts.

8. The first session is a full day of lobbying. Essentially, the first day of committee is a full day of unmoderated caucus. Delegates work together to draft their resolutions. This allows delegates to focus on writing the resolution (as opposed to competitively piecing it together during brief 10-20 minute unmoderated caucuses intermittently throughout the conference) and to go more in-depth in discussion and solutions.

9. The focus of the debate is on amending resolutions. Since resolutions are already written during the first day of lobbying sessions, the rest of the committee sessions will focus on amending the resolutions. The main submitter (sponsor) will read off the draft resolution and then delegates will make speeches in favor or against the resolution and submit amendments to it. The focus is much more on debating the merits of the resolution. North American delegates should also note that this process may feel more dragged out because there are no unmoderated caucuses in between to switch up the debate format.

10. Teachers can get involved in the Approval Panel. Draft resolutions have to go through an approval panel for editing on grammar and spelling before it is presented to the committee. Committee chairs do this type of editing in North American conferences but at THIMUN conferences there’s a special room staffed by teachers that take care of this; the THIMUN chairs focus on the substantive aspects of the draft resolution.

11. There’s a General Assembly Plenary session. This is actually not THIMUN-specific; conferences hosted by non-profit organizations such as NHSMUN and GCIMUN in the United States also feature GA Plenary sessions (both of the latter two conferences do this in the actual General Assembly Hall at the UN Headquarters). This is where delegates from all the GA committees get together on one of the days to present, discuss, and vote on the resolutions after several days of debate in their own committees. It’s a more realistic simulation of the real United Nations.

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The flagship THIMUN conferences are:

• THIMUN
• THIMUN Singapore
• THIMUN Qatar

Here is the list of THIMUN-affiliated conferences:

• American Int. School Model United Nations [AISMUN], Cairo, Egypt
• American School Foundation Model United Nations [ASFMUN], Mexico City, Mexico
• Amman Model United Nations [AMMUN], Amman, Jordan
• Bath Model United Nations [BSMUN], Bath, United Kingdom
• Beijing Model United Nations [BEIMUN], Beijing, China
• Berlin Model United Nations [BERMUN], Berlin, Germany
• Cairo American College Model United Nations [CACMUN], Cairo, Egypt
• Chennai Model United Nations [CHEMUN], Chennai, India
• Colegio Am. Int. Naciones Unidas [CAMINU], Quito, Ecuador
• Dhirubhai Ambani International Model United Nations [DAIMUN], Mumbai, India
• Deutsche Schule Athen Model United Nations [DSAMUN], Athens, Greece
• Dubai International Academy Model United Nations, [DIAMUN], Dubai, United Arab Emirates
• Genoa Model United Nations [GeMUN], Genoa, ITALY
• Haarlem Model United Nations [HMUN], Haarlem, The Netherlands
• Haileybury Model United Nations [Haileybury], Hertford Heath, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
• Iberian Model United Nations [IMUN], Lisbon, Portugal
• International Monterrey Model United Nations Simulation [IMMUNS], Santa Catarina, Mexico
• International MUN of Alkmaar [IMUNA], Alkmaar, The Netherlands
• Johannesburg Model United Nations [JOMUN], Johannesburg, South Africa
• Leiden Model United Nations [LEMUN], Leiden, The Netherlands
• MINIMUN [MINIMUN], The Hague, The Netherlands
• Malysian Model United Nations [MYMUN],Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
• Modèle francophone des Nations Unies [MFNU], The Hague, The Netherlands
• MUNESCO, Ankara, Turkey
• MUN of the Int. School of The Hague [MUNISH], The Hague, The Netherlands
• MUN of the Overseas Family School [MUNOFS], Singapore
• Panama Model United Nations [PANAMUN], Panama City, Panama
• Paris Model UN [PAMUN], Paris, France
• Robert College International Model United Nations [RCIMUN], Istanbul, Turkey
• Royal Russell School Model United Nations [RRSMUN], Croydon, Surrey, United Kingdom
• SHAPE Model United Nations [SHAPEMUN], SHAPE, Belgium
• South American Model United Nations [SAMUN], Caracas, Venezuela
• St. Petersburg Int. Model United Nations [SPIMUN], St. Petersburg, Russia
• St.Andrew’s International Model UN [SAIMUN], Dublin, Ireland
• Turkish International Model United Nations [TIMUN], Istanbul, Turkey
• Zambia Model United Nations [ZAMUN], Lusaka, Zambia

Thanks to all our MUN friends who submitted suggestions for this video:

This post was provided by  Parth Shingala, JPSMUN Under Secretary-General Class of ’13. J.P. Stevens MUN won Best Large Delegation at the 2012 Harvard MUN conference. 

The JPSMUN Team at HMUN

Coming from the suburbs of Edison, NJ, JP Stevens High School does not have a typical Model UN program by any means. The club meets once a week after school for forty five minutes and is all inclusive. Membership is not denied to any student, and no one needs to “try out” to gain a spot. JPSMUN is proud of the fact that it is a public school; in fact, it loves being considered the underdog. One may view the JPSMUN delegation as a couple of ragtag students with faux hawks who typically pay close attention to gaining support of the back row and calling themselves the “voice of the developing nations”.  The aforementioned claim is exactly who we are, and we take pride in that matter.

Last year, if you were to say that JPSMUN were to capture Best Large Delegation at HMUN, we’d call that hogwash. At HMUN 2011, JPSMUN had a sixth place finish, with only a few awards. A year later, the team went through a rebuilding phase, a change of leadership, and a new focus on training. A year later, attempting to defy the means, we entered in with 26 delegates, ten more compared to the previous year. Out of these 26 delegates, only 10 delegates had debated at the highly competitive HMUN. For the rest of the 16 delegates, 8 of them had just started pursuing Model UN this year. Out of all nine partnerships, only two partnerships had experience with each other in prior conferences. These brave 26 delegates represented the upper echelon of JP Stevens High School, these 26 delegates that were guided by a vision– a purpose, the purpose to grow. No matter what the outcome, delegates were aware of the fact that the conference was ultimately a learning experience in the big picture; the skills acquired from this conference are definitely helpful when it comes to other conferences. Meeting once a week at an Executive Board member’s house, we all gathered and helped each other out in our own time. Staying after school at the library, all of us were there for each other. Every single delegate from JPSMUN was there to mature as a delegate, even if it was their third HMUN or their third national conference. This spirit was embodied

The JPSMUN Specialized Agency Winners

throughout the weekend. The team never backed down, they pulled all nighters prior to the conference hoping to understand Russian foreign policy. The Executive Board made it clear that HMUN was apart of a bigger process- the entire Model UN experience that’s extremely worthwhile, an experience that cements a plethora of memories down the line. On that note, 26 delegates from a public school in Central New Jersey attempted to turn some heads at what arguably may be the most competitive and prestigious conference in the nation. The task was not easy, it had never been done– but the new look of JP Stevens Model UN, under the brilliant leadership of advisers Mr. Anthony White and Dr. Geis truly performed. This year marked the first time that JPSMUN ever performed in the specialized agencies at HMUN, the result– An Outstanding delegation in the flagship UNSC, and three best delegate awards in respective crisis committees. Walking into uncharted territory, JPSMUN delegates pulled out all the stops, utilizing everything they learned from meetings in an Eboard member’s basement.

The end result was clearly captivating, JPSMUN walked out with the Best Large Delegation award at HMUN 2012, with an 85% award ratio throughout the delegation. This serves as a message to every single Public School Model UN program in the nation— determination and work ethic greatly factor you’re your vision. JPSMUN’s victory at HMUN is clearly the apex of the clubs achievements—however, this victory marks the start, the beginning of what JPSMUN can achieve.

The JPSMUN Chant:

JPSMUN! What is your tuition?

Zero! Zero! Zero!

Port Charlotte won at GatorMUN

The University of Florida Model United Nations organization’s conference provides a learning experience unlike any other in that it breaks from the traditional classroom setting to transform high school students into experts on pressing international issues. For the weekend, students become delegates in important international forums addressing complex global issues such as preventing the spread of diseases, defending human rights, and upholding justice in the international system.

The Gulf Coast team visits The Swamp

Unlike traditional Model United Nations conferences, GatorMUN has chosen to eliminate the General Assemblies, which are typically the largest and most formally run committees. Instead, GatorMUN offers delegates seventeen smaller simulations to choose from, which we hope will give delegates the opportunity to become more actively engaged in understanding and debating various global issues.

There were 16 schools and over 450 delegates at GatorMUN this weekend. Port Charlotte High School won the Outstanding Large Delegation (equivalent to Best Large) with gavels in half of the 18 committees, and Spanish River High School won the Outstanding Small Delegation (equivalent to Best Small). Gulf Coast High School also performed well with four gavels.

**

Thanks to our readers for submitting the conference recap! 

This post has been provided by Dana Lea from Southern Methodist University. Dana studied abroad in Ghana and brought Model UN to a school there. 

The Team from Roman Ridge School in Ghana

The impact of Model United Nations (MUN) on the youth of the world is not to necessarily create future employees to the United Nations. Students who participate in MUN go into fields of all kinds including science and technology, finances, peace and security, human rights, health, and politics. The impact MUN has is to create the leaders in these fields. MUN students learn the skills necessary for leadership roles and a future in international relations: debate, diplomatic relations, resolution writing, negotiation, and strategy implementation. The value of these skills is incalculable and shapes these student’s futures. Having participated in MUN for eight years myself, I can honestly say that the experience I have gained molds whom I am, what I study and what job I will get after college.

In much of the developing world there is a need for leadership. Poor national planning, inefficient resource allocation, faulty national financial systems, and corruption in presiding administrations cause many of the hardships developing nations face. Many governments are not being held accountable by their citizens or by the international community. Education is the best way to break free of these inadequacies. The leaders of nations usually arise from the educated elite (unless otherwise from the military). Education thus has the power to create mold future leaders.

However, I do not believe we should rely solely on the established education systems. I believe that spreading Model United Nations organizations in these schools can teach the skills listed above that many of the leaders today are lacking. By playing a role in the international system, solving international conflicts and issues through negotiation, and upholding human rights and international regulations through treaties and resolutions students are coaxed away from conceptions of corruption and nepotism. These students gain an understanding of how the world works outside of the borders of their own nations and how to act in accordance to international law. MUN can even give these students ideas for how to fix development issues within their own countries by implementation of policies created in committee; MUN definitely garners research into what does work and what does not work; and MUN empowers students not only skills and knowledge to implement in international and political careers, but creates a drive in these students to go out, make a difference and become leaders in whatever fields they seek.

When I studied abroad in Accra, Ghana my spring 2011 semester, I wanted to do more than go to school. Through my host sister I met a woman named Deirdre Babalola, a general studies teacher at The Roman Ridge School. She told me how she was interested in creating a Model United Nations team for her upper level students and I quickly volunteered for the endeavor. I began working with her 19 students twice a week during their class period. I taught them the basics of the United Nations, parliamentary procedure, debate, research, bloc formation, and resolution writing.

Delegates voting in committee

Some of the students got really into the Model United Nations sessions and really began to shine as speakers and leaders, while others seemed not to be as enthused. During practice sessions I made sure that every student contributed, despite his or her level of willingness. For our conference to be held in late May, I chose the topic of peace resolution in Cote d’Ivoire. I believed the topic to be best since it was extremely close to home for these West African students and offered room for exceptional debate on how to handle an issue that was still being disputed by nations at the time. For country assignments I tried to really challenge all the students. Some of the best debaters were given P5 nations, while others were challenged with smaller developing nations. I also thought that I could motivate some of the not so eager students with powerful nations with many strong opinions. The counties represented at our conference included Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Liberia, Mali, Egypt, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Senegal, Kenya, Guinea Bissau, Niger, Gambia, South Africa, USA, Russia, China, France, and the UK. These assignments ensured regional cooperation, bloc formation, various opinions and solutions, and P5 resistance.

The week before our conference Mrs. Babalola collected the position papers written by the students, which she used for grades and I used to choose awards and to gage the students’ level of research. On the day of our conference the students were allowed to shed their school uniforms and come to school in western business attire appropriate for any Model UN conference. The level of participation and excitement was much higher on this day than it had been during any of the training sessions. A crowd of students, staff and parents were in attendance to watch the hard work of the class unfold. Debate went splendidly and the students exhibited the skills and knowledge they had gained in the prior weeks.

Overall, I am extremely pleased with the experience I had at the Roman Ridge School. Not only was I able to impart my Model UN skills and international relations knowledge to these students, but also I gained a sense of appreciation for the organization I have been a part of for eight years. I hope that many of these students will be inspired to continue with world politics and international relations. I know that the skills they have learned are tremendously valuable for their futures. From what I saw in the classroom on the day of our conference, I would not be surprised if a future president or minister of Ghana was in the room. These students are the future leaders of Africa and the world, I only hope my lessons in MUN can impart the tools necessary for that future.

I would like to send great thanks all the way to Ghana to Mrs. Babalola and her wonderful and bright students. I would also like the chance to recognize the winners of awards at our conference. Many of the students did wonderfully, but these are the students who reached beyond. The Best Delegate award went to Murvi Babalola (USA). Our Honorable Mentions went to Marciyah Gyan (France), Funbi Makinde (Ghana), and Abishek Raghavan (Gambia). The Best Position Paper award went to Matilda Williams (Guinea Bissau) and the Honorable Mention for Position Paper went to Eugene Brown (UK).

Best Delegate spent this past weekend liveblogging from MUNUC and Surf City Model United Nations. Be sure to check it out. Best Delegate is now offering summer camps! Click to Learn More about Model UN Summer Camps!

Conference Recaps

Delegates caucus in the OAS

Model United Nations of the University of Chicago (MUNUC)

Model United Nations of the University of Chicago (MUNUC) is the largest conference in the Midwest with 2,500 delegates descending upon Chicago to participate in a weekend of learning and fun. The conference, which has an emphasis on education, serves a vital role in the Midwest where Model UN conferences are not as widely available as in other parts of the country — many Midwestern delegates see this as their biggest conference of the year.

Surf City Model United Nations

Over 700 delegates from 8 Southern California schools attended this weekend’s Surf City MUN Conferencehosted by Huntington Beach High School. The Best Large Delegation awards went to Mira Costa and Edison, and Palos Verdes and Gahr received the Best Small Delegation awards.

Conference Preview

The LIMUN Secretariat

LIMUN

LIMUN is the largest annual university-based Model United Nations conference in Europe. It has a reputation for an exceptional standard of debate, set in London’s unique and cosmopolitan atmosphere. Each year, we welcome more than 800 delegates from across the world to London to debate some of the most pressing problems on the global agenda.

Upcoming Conferences

• Alabama Model United Nations (ALMUN)
• Johns Hopkins University Model United Nations Conference (JHUMUNC)
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology Model United Nations Conference (MITMUNC)
• Prague Model United Nations (PragueMUN)
• London International Model United Nations (LIMUN)

Community News

Best Delegate News

• Click to Learn More about Model UN Summer Camps!
• Model United Nations of the University of Chicago (MUNUC) Liveblog: Educating the Midwest
• Surf City Model United Nations 2012 Liveblog
• THIMUN Qatar and Northwestern University in Qatar Launches the Inaugural Qatar MUN and Film Leadership Conference
• New Conference: HenMUN Hosted by the University of Delaware
• Advisor Guest Post: Redefining “Best Delegate” — The True, Most Necessary Skills of the 21st Century “Problem Solver”
• North American Invitational Model United Nations (NAIMUN) Featured Series: Programming All the Fun That Goes On Outside of Committee

Model U.N. News

• Aspen High students get global with Model U.N. Club
• 1500 “model” UN participants hear message of challenge and responsibility from the Met publisher McGill conference third largest next to Harvard
• Fifteen International Baccalaureate (IB) Schools & Mumbai Dignitaries Conclude a Successful Model United Nations (MUN)
• Students to compete in Harvard Model UN Conference
• Students Recognized at YMCA Model United Nations Conference
• Gulf Coast High School “Model United Nations” team ranks in top 10 at national competition
• Model UN: Success from BC to France
• “Life-Changing” Model U.N. Conference Run Entirely by Earlham Students
• Georgetown kicks off Seventh Model United Nations Conference
• Model United Nations participates in international conference
• Longview ISD Foster students continue winning ways at Model UN
• Model UN Club Finds Success at Yale
• UF’s Model United Nations to hold GatorMUN conference this weekend
• Model UN Conference Opens World to Students
• Model United Nations Wins Best Small Delegation at Yale Conference
• Hundreds of New York City’s Most Dedicated Students Participate in Model United Nations Conference

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Delegates caucus at MUNUC

Model United Nations of the University of Chicago (MUNUC) is the largest conference in the Midwest with 2,500 delegates descending upon Chicago to participate in a weekend of learning and fun. The conference, which has an emphasis on education, serves a vital role in the Midwest where Model UN conferences are not as widely available as in other parts of the country — many Midwestern delegates see this as their biggest conference of the year. Check out our liveblog of the conference!

As usual, we try to capture different photos of delegates and staff in action:

The Prairie School is excited for MUNUC

The Cranbrook Kingswood School takes a team photo before Opening Ceremonies

Secretary-General Ben Smithgall encourages delegates to learn from this weekend's MUNUC

A delegate from the Aqsa School asks the keynote speaker a question

The Sixth Legal Committee

Seychelles (Cambridge-Isanti School) and the Czech Republic (Valparaiso High School) discuss their thoughts on a draft resolution in 6th Legal

Sweden (The Prairie School), India (Warren Central High School), Israel (Cathedral and John Connon School), and Nepal (Culver Academy) present their draft resolution in Sixth Legal

Sweden (The Prairie School) is active during unmoderated caucus in WIPO

Israel (Cathedral and John Connon School) debates an idea during unmoderated caucus in WIPO

Canada (Liberty Public Schools) speaks with another leading delegate in WIPO

Ghana (Keith Country Day School) leads a caucus bloc in WIPO

Jordan (Valparaiso High School) makes a speech in WIPO

Barbados (Edina High School) makes a speech in UNESCO

The co-delegates representing the Republic of Congo (Mundelein High School) address UNESCO

Delegates caucus in the International Labor Organization

A delegate speaks during unmoderated caucus in the International Labor Organization

Turkey (St. John's High School) tries to convince another delegate of his solutions in Interpol

Delegates exchange ideas with each other in the Ethiopian Derg

Delegates listen to ideas in the Ethiopian Derg

The dais of the Organization of American States is having fun at MUNUC

The co-delegates of St. Kitts and Nevis (Lake Forest Academy) work together in the OAS

Canada (Liberty Public Schools) listens to other delegates during unmoderated caucus in the OAS

Delegates caucus in the OAS

The USSR makes a speech in the Historical Security Council

SPECPOL in action

The sponsors for a draft resolution read off their ideas in DISEC. I couldn't catch all the sponsors but I believe Venezuela, Uzbekistan, Madagascar, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Myanmar are on there along with the lead sponsor, Ethiopia (the delegate reading the resolution).

Oman (St. George's School) asks the sponsors a question in DISEC

Qatar (Illinois Math & Science) makes a speech in ECOFIN

The Philippines are enjoying their time in ECOFIN

Undersecretary-General for Specialized Agencies Clara Spera roams the halls to make sure all delegates are having fun in her committees

India (Warren Central High School) makes a speech in the G8/G20 Summit

Germany (Cambridge-Isanti High School) makes a speech in the G8/G20 Summit

Singapore (Glenbrook South High School) gets some feedback from the dais in the G8/G20 Summit

The awesome dais of the G8/G20 Summit

Qatar (Illinois Math & Science) criticizes flaws in a draft resolution in in UNHCR

Spain (Carl Sandburg High School) thinks the draft resolution is too vague

Undersecretary-General of ECOSOC Committees Karissa Woienski poses with Fluffy, the mascot of MUNUC

Portugal (Chicagoland MUN Club) speaks in COPUOS

The Russian Federation (The Blake School) obviously has some opinions on space-related issues in COPUOS

Delegates in the European Defense Agency caucus with each other

Another bloc of delegates share their working papers with each other in the European Defense Agency

The leaders of the the JCC - Germany cabinet negotiate a secret agreement in preparation for an invasion of Poland

A general speaks to the JCC - Soviet Council of People's Commissars

Delegates in the JCC Soviet Council of People's Commissars strategize outside the committee room

A delegate tries to pitch her ideas to the rest of the Office of Strategic Services 1940s

Delegates get into a heated debate in the Office of Strategic Services 1940s

Undersecretary-General of Continuous Crisis Committees Gabriel Panek announces the awards for JCC - Soviet Council of People's Commissars

Undersecretary-General for Specialized Agencies Clara Spera announces the awards for COPUOS

MUNUC Closing Ceremonies are always an emotional affair. Chief Operating Office Aash Anand and Secretary-General Ben Smithgall share a hug here.

Delegates get in their team photos at the beautiful Palmer House Hilton after Closing Ceremonies

Awards Analysis:

MUNUC is meant to be an educational conference so competition is de-emphasized. Nevertheless, they do give out individual Outstanding, Honorable Mention, and Verbal Commendation awards. According to my unofficial tally of weighted scores, Liberty Public Schools and Deerfield High School seemed to be the top two performing delegations.

Culver Academy, Cambridge-Isanti School, Wayland Academy, The Blake School, Cranbrook Kingswood School, and Glenbrook South High School also put in outstanding performances. The following schools also saw a good number of their delegates win awards: Jefferson Area High School, Neuqua Valley High School, American Heritage School Plantation, Illinois Math & Science Academy, Edina High School, Walter Payton College Prep, Berkshire School, Cathedral and John Connon School, and the Chicagoland MUN Club.

Note that the Cathedral and John Connon School from India was competing on back-to-back weekends; they had successfully defended their Best International Delegation award at Harvard HMUN last week. Using their performance at both conferences to serve as a barometer, it goes to suggest that although many of these other Midwestern schools do not get a lot of press because they don’t have as many local conferences to attend, they are nonetheless excellent in committee and should not be overlooked when it comes to national recognition.

Delegates discussed how to reunify the Korean Peninsula in Surf City's joint cabinet crisis

One highlight of the conference was the joint crisis between the cabinets of North Korea and South Korea discussing reunification of the Korean Peninsula. The crisis staff had access to a green screen and made liberal use of it to create crisis videos. The two cabinets merged during the last committee session to have a joint negotiation on how to reunify the Koreas.

Click below to see more pictures from the conference!

Thank you to advisors Shaun Haney and Bill Harmicar and Secretaries-General Tianne Nguyen and Monica Vergara for having me visit!