Purpose: The purpose of the North American Collegiate Model UN All-Star Team is to recognize exemplary individuals in the college MUN community who have made a difference inside and outside of committee. These sometimes represent but are not necessarily limited to just the best delegates or award winners; conferences already determine those accolades. Rather, the College MUN All-Star Team should be representative of the best and most respected leaders in the community. They are diplomatic and skilled in committee, help strengthen the relationships between schools, provide thoughtful leadership, and make the Model UN experience better for everyone.

Process: College students who participated in at least one college Model United Nations conference in North America were eligible to submit one nomination form of up to ten students on the college circuit. Because of the All-Star Team’s emphasis on community, students were only allowed to nominate up to two delegates from their own school and were not allowed to nominate themselves. The nomination process took place from April 25 – May 5, 2019, and was promoted to a wide range of universities by the Best Delegate Media team. Each nominated name received one vote. Ballots were manually edited for spelling inconsistencies and manually checked for validity; only votes from valid ballots counted in the final numbers. Delegates receiving the top number of votes were given All-Star team honors divided into three tiers that reflect the percentage of votes received: 12 First Team, 12 Second Team, and 16 Third Team.

Credits: Best Delegate co-founder Kevin Felix Chan and Executive Director of Operations Erik Leiden tallied the data. Media Team Editor-in-Chief Elaine Miao and Editor of Best Delegate Content Genevieve Pool contacted Head Delegates and other college Model UNers to source the All-Star Team biographies and photos. Thank you to all the individuals who contributed biographies, and thanks to everyone on the circuit for participating in recognizing their peers for leadership in the community!

All names are in alphabetical order by first name within each tier. Biographies and photos are provided by the All-Star’s peers. This year’s biographers represented some of the top delegates on the circuit that were friends, teammates, and competitors of All-Star Team members. These delegates were not only some of the most competitive on the circuit, but have also in some capacity worked to make the circuit a better place.

COLLEGE MODEL UN ALL-STAR TEAM (FIRST TEAM)

Areesha Irfan

New York University

Areesha Irfan is a graduating senior majoring in Politics and Middle East and Islamic Studies at NYU. She joined MUN her freshman year, traveling to a whopping ten conferences in her first two semesters on the team. As a junior, she served as head delegate and this past year she returned to lead the NYU team for a second year of greatness. Outside of MUN, she can usually be found sipping a spicy chai latte, taking public transportation to Philadelphia (who knows why that is), and dismantling the patriarchy one tweet at a time. Areesha is recognized by many across the circuit for her passion, work ethic and dedication to MUN. Friends and acquaintances will remark on her talented debate skills and crafty crisis plots. Close friends will remark on her quirky humor and lighthearted personality. Areesha is an invaluable teammate, a knowledgeable teacher, and a great friend, and we wish her the greatest success as she pursues her masters in Military Studies at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies this fall.

Avery Kim

Columbia University

An inspiration and natural leader, Avery Kim is a rising junior at Columbia University and will serve as Head Delegate for the 2019-2020 academic year. After wrapping up her freshman year at UC Berkeley as the only crisis delegate with a 100 percent East Coast award streak, Avery transferred to Columbia ready to pick up right where she left off. This was quickly accomplished just a few months into school with her Outstanding Delegate award at her first conference as a Columbia delegate, UPMUNC 2018. Beyond awards and accomplishments, she’s been an incredible influence on the circuit with her natural ability to make lasting friendships wherever she goes, her efforts to make committees more accessible and inclusive for all, and her fearlessness to not be afraid to speak up for what’s right. Though she’s made the Columbia Model UN team her life, community, and family, there’s a high likelihood she’ll still shout out an ironic but wholesome “Go Bears!” without missing a beat. We are so lucky to have you, and we can’t wait for you to be our Head Del.

Elaine Miao

University of California, Los Angeles

Elaine Miao is a graduating senior who served as one of Model UN at UCLA’s head delegates this past year, helping lead her team to the best season in its history. In her final year, Elaine won numerous gavels at many of the circuit’s most competitive conferences, including ChoMUN’s Ad Hoc committee, and established herself as one of the most successful delegates ever at UCLA. Besides being a fantastic delegate, Elaine is best known both inside and outside of UCLA as one of the most beloved members of the Model UN community, having made deep and lasting friendships with countless people across the circuit. Despite her love of communism, addiction to randomly biting her friends, and inability to fall asleep during conferences, it is virtually impossible to not love Elaine. Beneath her incredibly happy and friendly exterior is a massively intelligent, determined, and charismatic woman, who is able to excel within numerous leadership roles across multiple organizations while still always being there for those who need her. She has selflessly served the Model UN community through her work at Best Delegate, from teaching to the hours upon hours put in as Editor-in-Chief, all while prioritizing making MUN inclusive and education-focused. Both UCLA and the entire circuit have been greatly improved by Elaine’s presence over the past 4 years, and she will be deeply missed.

Elodie Currier

Georgetown University

Truly, the only words fit to describe Elodie are “a force of nature.” From dominating the most grueling of GAs to taking over the fastest-paced crisis committees, she has proven herself to be a titan on the circuit. Six times Elodie walked in a committee room this year. A whopping four of those times, she walked out with a gavel. Her love for Model UN extends far past her competitive success. Elodie leaves behind a meaningful legacy as she gears to move to the city that never sleeps. From the freshmen who now have a piqued interest in pirate crisis arcs, to being the only person in Georgetown history to have actually broken a foot doing Model UN (turns out MUN is a sport!), to running Georgetown’s two most competitive committees: NAIMUN’s UNSC and the GIRA Board, Elodie has shown her undying devotion to Georgetown’s MUN program. But, most importantly, Elodie will be remembered by the friendships that she made, both on the circuit and at Georgetown. She may be moving from D.C. onto bigger and better things, but Georgetown will never forget her: the team is where it is today because of the hours and hours of hard work she has put in, and for that we are endlessly thankful.

Genevieve Pool

Georgetown University

Genevieve “Gen” “GenPool” Pool, according to some, “goes hard” in GAs. She’ll never let you forget that GAs are better than crisis, that she goes to Georgetown, or that she worked in Rwanda for a whole summer. Gen is a graduating senior and has become a mainstay on the circuit, well known for her kindness, chacos, and her absolute savagery as a delegate. Her natural talents showed this past year with GA awards at UPMUNC and UNCMUNC, and a gavel at WorldMUN. However, as much as she may not want to admit it, her crisis skills showed through too when she gaveled &MUN and ChoMUN. As Gen will remind you time and time again, MUN isn’t all about awards, and she had pushed for tremendous strides in inclusivity on her team, as a staffer, and on the circuit that will have effects long after she’s gone. A friend to many and a fearless leader for all, she is always there as a shoulder to cry on, a cheerleader, and, overall, and absolute HBIC. With codependency forming between her and delegates from all over the circuit, Gen will be missed dearly next year. Her passion for Model UN, working for Best Delegate, and teaching the GU team camp traditions are things the circuit won’t be able to replace.

RJ Ruano

University of Chicago

RJ Ruano is a graduating senior who served as the President of the UChicago team this year. Perhaps best known on the circuit for his maroon pants and Yik Yak socks, RJ is known within the UChicago team as a loving and goofy leader who has been at the heart of this team’s success. As he consistently dominated on Ad Hocs, UNSCs, and crisis committees across the board, his golden personality always shone through and he was never too busy or too stressed to help another member of our team out with their committees. RJ has been a fearless leader, a great friend to the people he has met across the circuit, and most importantly, an irreplaceable addition to the family that is our team. RJ, thank you for everything you have done for this team. We are so excited to see you begin your career in D.C. at the McChrystal Group and know you will continue to thrive and exceed our expectations in the future.

Rose Meinrath

University of California, Berkeley

Although she is graduating this year, Rose Meinrath will be fondly remembered for years to come by her friends in UCBMUN and around the circuit. As UC Berkeley’s crisis head delegate, her indefatigable optimism, devious crisis schemes, and endless devotion to her teammates produced the most successful crisis team UCBMUN has seen in recent memory. In addition to being the one of the best best competitive delegates on the team, Rose is well loved for her caring and hilarious personality. Her iron liver (she single-handedly consumed almost one-sixth of the minimum bar tab at UCBMUN) brought her infamy on the circuit early on, but her ability to light up any room she walks into brought her fame. Next year, you can find her bringing productive crisis arcs to real life in Washington, D.C. We’ll miss you so much, Rose. The West Coast is losing more than just a good delegate: we’re losing an amazing friend as well.

Sam Rice

University of Virginia

Graduating from the McIntire School of Commerce, Sam Rice has been described as a MUN god of Virginia by those who know him best. His experience over this past year certainly justifies such a divine title within the UVA team. In addition to another year of winning on the circuit, Sam served as Secretary General of the Virginia International Crisis Simulation, where he drew upon his years of MUN experience to lead the conference to new heights. A natural leader, Sam expertly directed, managed and fed his secretariat throughout the months leading up to the conference, and he worked tirelessly to make sure every delegate and staffer had an amazing experience conference weekend. Whether he’s traveling on the circuit or on grounds, Sam always greets you with a smile and is always eager to make new friends, often while playing strategy board games.  While he will be sorely missed next year, his legacy of leadership and friendship will continue to have an impact for years to come.

Sam Taglia

The Ohio State University

Sam Taglia recently graduated from The Ohio State University with a Bachelors of Arts in Cultural Anthropology and Public Affairs. Model UN has been a large part of Sam’s undergraduate career. This past year, he served as president of the Collegiate Council on World Affairs at OSU and was awarded best delegate at UPMUNC and PUNC along with receiving an outstanding delegate awards at McMUN and CMUNNY and honorable mention at ChoMUN. Sam is a fierce delegate while being a fiercer friend, with forever homies across the circuit made from his first conference to his last. Sam holds a special place in the hearts of Best Delegate staff, through constantly being the most lovable, enthusiastic, and easy-to-make-fun-of person in any room. Sam is passionate about everything he does, from Star Wars trivia to secretly overthrowing governments in the backroom. In the fall, Sam is moving to St. Louis to join Teach for America as a cultural anthropology teacher, where he will inevitably maintain his persona of “proud/occasionally concerned dad.”

Sarah Carroll

University of Florida

Sarah Carroll is a graduating senior, finishing up her collegiate career at the University of Florida. In her senior year, she has traveled all across the country, making friends everywhere she went. Most importantly, she also served as the Secretary-General of FLCS VIII after being on Secretariat for the past two years. Sarah is known across the circuit for both her individuality and her presence but also how much fun and excitement follows wherever she goes. She is THE Sarah Carroll, especially where socials are involved. When she is not talking about Hungary, at Salty Dog or dealing with fire alarms, her desires and determination to accomplish anything and everything and help UF succeed have shown through, especially this past year serving as both a Head Delegate and Secretary-General. She will be missed as she moves on to Hungary and the DOD, but we can’t wait to see what new and exciting things she accomplishes!

Seth Fiderer

College of William & Mary

Seth “my arc was great but in room could’ve been better” Fiderer has been competing in MUN for many hours now, and talking about MUN for many more. He is charismatic, fun, and has made what most would describe as “too many” circuit friends along the way. As head delegate this year, he led William & Mary’s travel team to incredible success, with both personal gavels (looking at you, ChoMUN) and arc-ing with every member of his team. He is also a professional crisis arc coach for his circuit friends – but only if it doesn’t hurt his team, since he will give an extensive weakness debrief or “avoid at all costs” warning when W&M competes against these friends. While he may pretend to not have a life outside of MUN, Seth also brings his MUN passion to other interests. They include agonizing over every paper, his Tunisia travels, doggos and all things Blessed, and – most importantly – memes, of which he is an expert connoisseur and creator. While he may know literally every team’s awards history from memory, he actually doesn’t campaign for All-Star yet is on a #streak just by creating real friendships wherever he travels and embodying both what it means to be an All-Star and to have #clout.

Syed Adnan

Florida International University

A barbecue and Middle Eastern politics aficionado, Syed hails from (the marshlands of) West Florida and is extremely proud of that fact. He started Model United Nations at Cape Coral High School, and in 8 years Syed has put together a legendary MUN career and legacy. Among his long list of accomplishments are 13 “Best Delegate” awards, a Diplomacy Fellowship with Best Delegate, and being elected president of Florida International University Model United Nations, leading the team to new heights. While his MUN acumen and success as a delegate and a leader are impressive, Syed’s most “all-star” qualities are his people-skills. He has made a lasting impression on the circuit as a friendly, fun individual that will put his own interests aside for others, even for people he barely knows. Congratulations to Syed for a well-deserved all-star team selection—it has been a long time coming. The FIU team will have big shoes to fill as Syed moves up to New York in the fall for his Masters.

COLLEGE MODEL UN ALL-STAR TEAM (SECOND TEAM)

Amanda Warren

University of Pennsylvania

17 conferences later, it is with a weary heart the circuit says goodbye to one of its true legends. She lit up the circuit with her charisma, from the committee room to Boat Party to the Boston Park Plaza. This past year, she contributed immensely, as a delegate and person, to Penn’s first delegation award at HNMUN in 6 years, and notably won her fourth ChoMUN gavel in as many tries, captivating creative crisis staffers like no other. She also served as Vice President of Penn’s International Affairs Association. Next year, Amanda will be working for J.P. Morgan’s Technology Investment Banking group in San Francisco, though her team hopes she’ll visit Philly (and maybe D.C. too). Penn will miss its sweet but psycho superstar, but not as much as she’ll miss Officer Germaine.

Ellie Tingstad 

Michigan State University

Ellie Tingstad is a graduating senior from Michigan State University, recently receiving her degrees in Economics, German, and Chinese. In her years on the circuit, she has made a strong impression both in and out of committee. Her level of commitment and dedication to MUN is extremely admirable and has always been a welcoming and encouraging member of the delegation. She has inspired many her fellow delegates to improve their speaking skills, crisis arcs, and fashion choices. Across the circuit, she is well known for her incredible and outgoing personality. Ellie has proven to be a powerful force and formidable delegate within committee, and although she will be sorely missed by Michigan State’s delegates, we can’t wait to see what she does next. YAAS QUEEN!

Graham Pfeiffer

College of William & Mary

Graham is a rising junior and the incoming head delegate for the College of William & Mary. Graham is well known on the circuit and at William & Mary for his incredibly detailed and creative crisis arcs and his deep passion for all things Model UN. More importantly, he is known for being the most humble, down-to-earth, caring person anyone could have the pleasure of knowing. He has an incredible sense of humor he carries with him everywhere he goes, both inside and outside the committee room. This charisma has allowed him to win many awards, dominating at four conferences this year and gaveling ChoMUN while making even more friends. Graham is a true confidante and an amazing leader to the team and the circuit, and will surely carry the Model UN team at William & Mary to new heights.

Jenna Wong

Harvard University

Jenna Wong is a superstar who has led the Harvard team over the past year with unspeakable grit, passion, and a penchant for feminist revolts. A queen on both coasts, Jenna won Best Delegate at NCSC, UPMUNC, UCBMUN, and LAMUN this year and garnered Outstanding Delegate at two additional conferences. Her love for crisis, which she has demonstrated by doing everything from leading Jesus’ Apostles to crashing world economies, is just the beginning of her repertoire, as she has also directed GAs, is running an entire conference (HMUN India), and has devoted countless hours to bettering the entire Model UN community. She is known on the circuit for her moving speeches, powerful bloc-building, and impeccable floral pants, as well as for changing up the gender dynamics of Ad-Hoc committees everywhere she goes. Jenna brings out the best in everyone, and has also been pivotal in making MUN a more empowering place for all. Jenna is a clear MUN all-star, and we are so grateful for her leadership this past year.

John Govern

United States Military Academy at West Point

John Francis Govern is a cadet at the United States Military Academy at West Point who majored in international relations and studied for a semester in France (which he won’t let anyone forget). He has participated in Model UN during his four years at West Point and served as head delegate for his final year of competition. John has been a superb role model, both on and off the circuit, for his friends and teammates. John’s most notable accolades from this year include back to back diplomacy awards at Harvard World Model United Nations 2018 and 2019, best delegate awards at McMUN 2019, BarMUN 2018, and CMUNNY 2018. Outside his awards, though, John is better known for being a phenomenal friend to teams across the circuit. John is set to graduate from West Point later this month, branched infantry, and West Point will lose a born leader and incredible Tin-Tin lookalike. We wish you the best of luck in your future, John, and we’ll miss you!

Jon Flores

University of Southern California

When it comes to Model UN, there’s no delegate quite like Jon Flores. He began his journey at College of the Canyons, an inspired young man right out of his high school football team who was hungry for competition. When he was introduced to the unique world of Model United Nations, he used this newfound passion to not only to become one of the fiercest delegates, but one of the best friends and mentors anyone can ask for. Many have had the opportunity to get to know Jon, and an extremely lucky few have had the honor of being in the Jon Flores MUN family line. Everyone that has entered Jon’s life in that capacity has become extremely motivated to excel in MUN, but more importantly they have always felt like they had a brother to turn to any moment they need. At USC, he rose to be the Director of Training almost instantaneously and has greatly contributed to USC’s growth, as they became one of the best teams on the circuit. Jon’s impact on the circuit goes far beyond committee. This bio speaks for almost everyone when it says, “We love you Jon Flores!!”

Lindsey Mosley

University of Florida

Lindsey Mosley has gathered quite the list of accolades in her senior year at the University of Florida, serving this past year as the President of UF MUN and previously as the Head-Delegate. Lindsey is truly one of the nicest people you’ll meet, even when she has to deal with election crises or other club-related events. Lindsey’s determination has won her many awards around the circuit and has led to some very entertaining stories at VICS, McMUN, and WPMUNI. Her time at UF and in this club has seen so many improvements, and when she isn’t talking about her future career and Georgetown, or the occasional name drop that she studied abroad, Lindsey’s dedication and passion for Model UN has shown through in all of the ups and downs and is memorialized in all the group chats made in her name. We can’t wait to see what she will accomplish in these upcoming years as she completes a Masters Degree at Georgetown and we know she will go far!

Malvika Varma

University of California, Los Angeles

Malvika Varma is a unstoppable powerhouse on the circuit like no other, and commands respect from every delegate she has ever encountered. If you’ve been (un)lucky enough to be in committee with Malvika, you’ve seen firsthand that her ability to command a committee room. Her authoritative voice and unmod shimmying skills place her among some of the circuit’s best and her mere presence strikes fear into every power delegate’s heart. While she dominates crisis arcs, Malv also gained some valuable knowledge from her time on the circuit, such as the fact that electric eels are in fact real animals and that hot tubs are not at boiling temperature. From frequently flying to the east coast, she has also mastered the quickest route to Dunkin Donuts from the airport. In her four years on the circuit, she is also known for her ability to connect and make friends with anyone, especially if they are from key SoCal schools. Malvika has undoubtedly made the college circuit a better place, and generations of UCLA delegates will benefit from her legacy as one of the best presidents MUN at UCLA has seen.

Noah Levine

University of Pennsylvania

When delegates from the University of Pennsylvania talk about their school and team, one word comes to mind: family. And at the head of this family stands Noah Levine. More than his amazing awards record, Noah will be remembered for his incredible leadership. Many members can remember a time where, when they needed help, Noah had their back. He has been up at 4am brainstorming clauses when one of our delegates was sick. He’s phoned in to debrief teammates at conferences he wasn’t even attending. As head of Penn’s team, Noah has firmly prioritized his teammates, and his leadership is proof that a team can do well without putting awards above their own wellbeing. Originally from Upstate New York, Noah enjoys terrible dad jokes and long scenic hikes. While we will all miss him terribly, we wish him the best next year in D.C. and we rest easier knowing he is only a short train ride away.

Shravan Balaji

University of Pennsylvania

Where does one begin talking about Shravan Balaji? He is a senior at the University of Pennsylvania majoring in business and circuit relations, with a minor in performing statistical analysis on Intercol’s award record. He somehow made this all star team while actively telling everyone NOT to vote for him. When he reads this, he will probably say “seriously?” despite the fact that he has an extensive collection of gavels. Intercol may never be the same without Shravan’s guidance, late night phone calls, threats of “retiring,” and intense FOMO, so we are hoping he uses his immunity gauntlet to keep doing MUN for 4 more years (would anyone be surprised?). So to definitively answer your question, Shravan, no- not everyone is mad at you, as long as you stay in touch.

Zac Schroepfer

Georgetown University

Zac’s rise from never doing MUN before college to leading one of the most competitive and inclusive teams Georgetown has seen can only be described as “meteoric” and “honestly, no one was expecting that.” He has been a competitive force on the circuit, being one of the most consistent high awarders for all four years, but his real contributions go far beyond the 11 gavels he couldn’t care less about (although he did know instantly at ChoMUN that he had beaten Georgetown’s gavel record…) Despite a professed hatred of staffing, Zac consistently ran flawless committees at NCSC and NAIMUN and was the best Chief of Staff NCSC has ever seen. As Conferences Coordinator, Zac took on an incredibly thankless role and carefully infused inclusivity in every decision he made, and the team saw the lowest conference dues, highest number of delegates able to travel, over twice as many gavels, 60% more awards, and most underclassmen who have found a home in meme groups and a grungy basement. If you have ever worked with Zac in MUN, you know that this bio should end with his most important legacy: the Golden Rule, or “don’t be a jerk (but maybe be petty).”

Zachary Bontempo

American University

When you speak with those who have had the pleasure of knowing Zach, they will tell you that he is among the circuits most talented delegates, experienced leaders, and lively personalities, thus making his placement onto this year’s All-Star team no surprise to any. While his near 2 year long award streak featuring multiple gavels and stretching across every style of committee available all speak for themselves, it is Zach’s ability to care for everyone that truly established his presence on the circuit. Serving as Head Delegate for American University this past year, Zach has overseen the team’s best performance ever, while simultaneously cultivating a team environment that inspires, motivates, and supports one another. While his continued love affair with China or whatever the ‘established’ power in the region may be, along with his ungodly amount of knowledge on chemical weapons and Iran remain marginally concerning to those around him, Zach has clearly established himself as one of the premier delegates on the circuit, and we all look forward to seeing what he has in store for us along with the rest of the circuit next year!

COLLEGE MODEL UN ALL-STAR TEAM (THIRD TEAM)

Aaron Tarajos

University of California, Berkeley

It took Aaron just as long to make this list as it did to make the actual UCBMUN team. If you walk into a room and spot a blonde man wearing a pink shirt, Sperry’s, or any other apparel a Chad would wear, chances are you’ve stumbled upon the legendary Aaron Tarajos. It is reported that he was talking about his hopes and aspirations to one of his closest friends right as he got an email telling him that he was going to be a UC Berkeley student. He grew to become the one of the most remembered faces of UCBMUN, as he went across the nation bringing home gavel after gavel, while being one of the most friendly and encouraging individuals around. Aaron embodies what the best of MUN truly means. He is an example to young community college MUNners, as well as all of his friends, that there is no school too small to become big on the circuit and there is no limit to what you can do with little water and a big heart. The West Coast will sorely miss one of the most competitive, lively, and kind personalities the circuit has known, and UC Berkeley will lose an amazing DJ-by-night, Roni Slopes.

Alexander Morales

Florida International University

Alexander Morales is a man not defined by awards, but by the incredibly positive influence he’s had on the circuit and on FIU. Renowned for his encyclopedic knowledge of history and politics, Alex is one of the most gifted head delegates the program has ever seen, and everyone on the team looks up to his unwavering diligence. If you’ve ever held a conversation with him, you’ll note his contagious passion for learning. Aside from MUN, Alex is an accomplished researcher and dedicated student leader on campus, making a quick three hour commute to work in FIU’s public policy institute every day of the week. In his free time, you could find Alex reading up on daily Russian politics or browsing Instagram for history memes. All in all, Alex’s intellectual, caring, and driven attitude has left a deep imprint on FIU, and he will be deeply missed by his friends as he embarks for grad school in GWU this fall for security studies.

Andrew Jiang

Harvard University

Andrew Jiang is a senior at Harvard studying Statistics. Otherwise known as the official “team dad,” Andrew served as Co-Head Delegate of ICMUN his junior year, and continued to compete on the circuit throughout his senior year. He is a crisis genius, having plotted the most elaborate crisis arcs for just about any and every committee, including his very fair share of Security Councils. Besides the many gavels that rest atop his dresser, Andrew’s major contributions to the Model UN circuit include his unwavering and unconditional friendship and respect for other delegates. He deeply values the friendships he’s made through his time in Model UN, and this relationship is reciprocal because Andrew’s personality, charisma, and demeanor is alluring. Next year, he will be taking his talents to New York for trading. His absence on both the Harvard team and broader circuit is sure to be felt next year, as we will all deeply miss him and the positive energy he radiates in every place he goes.

Angelo Fernandez

The George Washington University

Thanks to his strong clause-writing and bloc-building skills, Ángelo has distinguished himself as one of the strongest and most consistent GA delegates on the circuit, with his trademark glasses and Gucci loafers following him all over conference. Ángelo first got into Model UN in his home of Puerto Rico, which developed his strong passion for diplomacy, engaging debate, and comprehensive solutions. Since his freshman year at GW, Ángelo has stood out thanks to his numerous awards, most notably his Outstanding Delegate awards this year at CMUNNY and ChoMUN, the former of which propelled his team to win an Outstanding Small Delegation award. However, where Ángelo’s passion and dedication for MUN is arguably most apparent is within the GW team he has helped empower throughout his entire college MUN career. This year, he served as Vice Head Delegate and led the team to consistently rank among the top ten (and most recently top five!) in the nation. Your hard work has definitely paid off, Ángelo, and you will be sorely missed by the college circuit you have helped shape over four years of hard delegating, and the team that loves you and learned from you. Ángelo will forever remembered as GW’s favorite Puerto Rican and (almost) NBA star that ever crossed Foggy Bottom.

Grant Peterson

University of Tennessee

Grant Peterson is a delegate from the University of Tennessee and a good friend to everyone he’s had the pleasure of meeting on the circuit. In the past year, he has won an award at every conference he has traveled to and, most notably, won best delegate at ChoMUN. On the circuit, Grant is known for his cowboy boots, and for being one of the most prepared people in the committee room. Outside of Model United Nations, you can usually find Grant following his passion by modeling and decorating a variety of board games for his company. As he becomes the President of the team, Grant has big plans for the University of Tennessee as he hopes to improve the skills of all of his delegates and bring the UT name to new heights.

Hari Asuri

The George Washington University

Hari is a graduating Senior from the George Washington University. He joined the GW team his freshman year, and since then he has been one of the most active members on the team. Known for his unique style, 48 count gel pens, and construction paper directives, Hari always gave his all for MUN and for the GW Team. He served as head delegate for a year and in addition helped train three generations of GW delegates to new heights.  Hari is always ready to help others and is always someone his team can count on. Hari will be remembered for his style, personality and constant smile. We wish you all the best in future endeavors, and we will miss you dearly. GW is losing a circuit legend, and we will be hard-pressed to find someone to fill your shoes.

Jake Stoffel

United States Military Academy at West Point

Graduating West Point this year, Jake Stoffel is leaving behind a legacy as a incredible delegate and passionate friend to his team and the circuit. A vibrant sense of humor and a consistent performance in committees made him both a force to be reckoned with and an immense pleasure to work with. Jake was an invaluable leader on the West Point team as head of logistics and a constant performer and gavel-getter. When not in uniform, Jake could usually be identified by his black sunglasses and being a frequent fixture at social gatherings (most commonly Georgetown’s.) Also known by his nickname “team father,” Jake has been a role model to his team, and his presence will be sorely missed. Model UN will be losing an accomplished delegate and incredible companion with his departure, but we wish him the best of luck with all his future endeavors.

Justin Schmerler

University of California, Los Angeles

Justin Schmerler/Schmerlz/Nick from Big Mouth served as MUN at UCLA’s Director of Travel Team, where he used his bad-cop tactics to lead the team to its most successful performance of all time. Yet, his biggest contribution to the circuit was his ability to strike fear into the hearts of delegates who dared to enter a committee with him. His complex crisis arcs, eloquent speaking style, and intense lobbying skills make him one of the greatest (and most intimidating) delegates that UCLA has ever produced and the circuit has ever seen. He ends his senior year with a clean sweep of awards from CMUNNY, TrojanMUN, McMUN, UCBMUN, ChoMUN, and HNMUN, four of which are gavels. Justin is moving on to work in Investment Banking in NYC, but will be leaving behind an irreplaceable legacy as one of UCLA’s G.O.A.Ts and a well-loved face on the circuit.

Mike O’Connor

American University

American University owes much of its recent success to the refreshing, rambunctious style of Mike O’Connor, incoming AU senior. Mike is one of the most passionate, relentless, and driven individuals on the circuit. In his role as VP, he authored over 100 pages of crisis guides for the team and left his planner open for conference prep for any team member on any day of the week. An embodiment of Mike’s leadership style is his bedroom floor, thick with underclassmen crisis pads ready to be reviewed and critiqued. Yet, what we all respect most about Mike is that for him, it’s always more important to do what’s right than what’s popular. His north star is that he never lets anything stand in the way of doing what he came to leadership to do: be a voice for the people who are counting on the Model UN community to be their college family. It’s safe to say that Mike’s legacy, leadership, and uncompromising refusal to let anyone feel unwelcome on the team or unprepared for the next conference will be felt for classes to come.

Mohammad Qayum

University of California, Davis

Mohammad Qayum is a UC Davis and West Coast legend, known for his intricate crisis arcs and passion for developing Model UN programs. Mohammad presided over a highly successful year as President, leading Davis Model UN to success both at home and around the circuit while picking up a plethora of awards for himself, including gavels at both TrojanMUN and LAMUN. At the same time, he has also been present for some of the most dysfunctional and frustrating moments on the circuit, yet led his team and others out of crisis situations. Luckily, he was well prepared for such circumstances from his experience as an ASUCD senator, which he never stops talking about. Outside of committee, Mohammad’s kind and gregarious nature has done wonders for fostering deeper cooperation and understanding between West Coast MUN programs. His graduation represents the loss of a titan on the #WestCoastBestCoast and he will certainly be sorely missed.

Mustafa Hassoun

Emory University

Hailing from the “Heart of Dixie” and a native of Baghdad, Mustafa Hassoun is a true friend of every person he has ever met on the circuit. He is a graduating senior and has served as President and Head Delegate of the Emory International Relations Association, and is known throughout the circuit and Emory University as the most charming man on God’s Green Earth. Dubbed the “team dad” over at Emory Model UN, Mustafa is widely respected throughout the Model UN Collegiate circuit as a Middle East expert. He is also fluent in an outrageous number of languages. From Mustafa’s resume, you might think he has no weaknesses, but he occasionally makes some questionable decisions, such as chairing a 24-hour committee at MUNE despite the fact that he’s known as a man who really needs his sleep, and trying (and failing) to Latin dance at Calle Ocho Fest in Miami in proximity of his friends from FIU who have cameras. The circuit will not be the same without Mustafa. Congratulations on a brilliant Model UN career, and we wish him luck in law school.

Naba Rahman

Georgetown University

Naba Rahman has been a force to be reckoned with on the circuit since she switched into MUN as a way to rebound from her first love, speech and debate. Known for her fiery speeches and strong opinions on hand gestures, Naba spent her first three years on the circuit describing herself as “the most in-room GA Del ever,” but her performance this year showed how strong she is as an all-around competitor, writer, and leader. Beyond her talent in the conference room, Naba has given countless hours to the GU team and its conferences, serving as an incomparable NCSC SG, an outspoken member of team and board leadership, and chairing (while standing) some of the most competitive committees on their respective circuits. She has exemplified what an All-Star is, through countless late nights and early mornings learning, researching, and strategizing. While her color-matched suits, penchant for stilettos regardless of pain and injury, and intense dedication to perfection might scare some people off, Naba will be remembered on the circuit not only as a fearless competitor but as a great friend. GU and the circuit will miss her strategy coffees that turn into existential convos, bloc pizza parties, and great club night outfits, but we know she’ll go on to do great things at CITI and beyond.

Priya Sethi

University of Southern California

Priya Sethi is a freshman at USC finishing off an impressive first year on the circuit. Coming into college with a longstanding awards streak from high school, her past year on the college MUN circuit was no different. As only an incoming sophomore, Priya has asserted herself as a leader on USC’s team, serving as USG of TrojanMUN and a member of the team’s Training Directorate. Priya also has an incomparable ability to command the attention of any GA room and never fails to give any committee her 110%. Within the USC team, Priya is known for an equally commanding presence at any social event and always brings a good time. The future is bright for Priya, and we can’t wait to see how she’ll positively affect the University of Southern California in the future!

Rebecca Cunningham

University of Chicago

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a woman in possession of prodigious MUN talent must be in want of a gavel. Rebecca Cunningham, a graduating fourth year at University of Chicago, has proved that truth many times over. But her impact on the circuit (rivaled in size only by the volume of her hair) goes far beyond the awards she’s brought home for her school. As a head delegate, she’s sacrificed countless hours and brain cells for the good of her team. Whether you were a first year or a fourth year, whether you needed help competitively or emotionally, Becca has always been there to run speech drills or pop open a bottle of wine. And despite all the time she’s put into her team, she’s still managed to write a rocking thesis, run a banging ChoMUN Ad Hoc (the best Press Corps the circuit has ever seen), and put on a rad committee for high school students at MUNUC (bringing Model UN to The Next Generation). Becca has gotten as much as she’s given. In her four years of MUN at UChicago, she’s found friends, mentors, mentees, and love. Find her next year running the streets of Washington D.C.

Richard Sommers

Florida State University

In his final year on the MUN circuit, Richard served as Director of the FSU World Affairs Program (WAP), bringing the team to 8 conferences and leading the team record of 4 Best Large Delegation Awards. His dedication to mentoring delegates and engaging them both on the circuit and on campus embodies his dedication to the success of FSU WAP. If anyone ever needed crisis help, Richard was the first one to offer out of the box (and sometimes very cunning) ideas. Richard left a huge impact on our team while serving as Assistant Director of Programming by revamping team training materials, leading more delegates to find success on the circuit. Outside of MUN, Richard is known for his 3am Fortnite sessions after spending all day at the library, and for his passionate need for an explicit invitation to everything. He will be missed on our team and the circuit but we all wish him luck as he begins Law School!

Suraag Srinivas

Georgetown University

Suraag “Floofy” Srinivas has become an institution on Georgetown’s Model UN team over the past three years with his crisis expertise, warm personality, and generosity with his flex dollars. Over the past year as Director of Training, Suraag worked tirelessly to reform Georgetown’s training program from the ground up, resulting in greater than ever freshman engagement and one of Georgetown’s most successful competitive years on record. Of course, it also goes without saying that Suraag is a fantastic delegate, racking up awards at some of this year’s most competitive conferences including gavels at UPMUNC and CHOMUN. Suraag also served as Secretary-General for the National Collegiate Security Conference, producing one of the best-reviewed and successful NCSCs on record. Beyond his many MUN accomplishments, Suraag is known not for his strength as a delegate, but his strength as a friend. Charismatic, loving, and deeply committed to the people he cares about, Suraag has definitely made GUMUN a better place. All of us at Georgetown are beyond thrilled and excited to have him serve as Head Delegate and Conferences Coordinator next year. We love you Raag!

Congratulations to all the delegates! Thank you for a great year on the circuit, enjoy your summer, and hope to see many of your next year! 

The post 2018-2019 North American Collegiate Model U.N. All-Star Team appeared first on Best Delegate Model United Nations.

Beaver Country Day School is an independent school in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. Since 2014, numerous students from Beaver have attended the MUN Institute, where they studied Model UN and brought their new skills back home to share with their MUN team. According to advisors Randall Northrop and Sumaya Ibourk, “The MUN Institute has helped our students and advisors learn about everything MUN-related from writing speeches, writing resolutions, tips on how to give speeches, research tips, and so much more.”

The post Model UN Team Spotlight: Beaver Country Day School appeared first on Best Delegate Model United Nations.

How much can students learn in just one week? In our experience at the MUN Institute, the answer is – A LOT! Each week at the MUN Institute, students learn about public speaking, research, negotiation, leadership, confidence, global issues, and so much more. In this new video, see exactly what each day is like at the MUN Institute, and get a feel for the MUNI student experience!

The post NEW VIDEO: One Week at the Model United Nations Institute appeared first on Best Delegate Model United Nations.

One of the most important parts of an Academic Summer Camp is the curriculum. What students learn in this academic non-school environment can elevate their summer experience. All year-round students learn amazing things from teachers that have dedicated their lives to educating our youth. The academic summer camp experience should compliment that effort and give students a different, yet valuable, learning experience.

The post 4 Ways Academic Summer Camp Curriculum Can Be Better than School Curriculum appeared first on Best Delegate Model United Nations.

There are many definitions of success in Model UN, and awards are only one extrinsic way of measuring success. Nevertheless, awards have existed in Model UN for years. They serve to recognize both individual students and   college teams as a whole for their accomplishments in leadership, research, public speaking, resolution-building, negotiation, and diplomacy. This year, the end of the year college rankings were more competitive than ever, with all schools on the circuit bringing forth their best efforts at collegiate competitions. These college rankings are meant to recognize different school teams for their efforts in preparing more students to succeed at conferences, both large and small, both worldwide and local. Our heavier emphasis this year on conference equity hopes to recognize both big and small conferences for their efforts on bringing competition to different regions in the United States.

Methodology

The World Division refers to the circuit of collegiate Model UN teams that are primarily run by college Head Delegates and primarily attend conferences hosted by college Model UN organizations, with the vast majority of those conferences featuring crisis committees. This ranking is only for the World Division.

The World Division Rankings uses a Cumulative Weighted Score Methodology. The Weighted Score Methodology is the same as in Fall 2018 with modifications in conference weightings to reflect attendance and competitiveness this year. Conferences included in the calculations are listed below and grouped with their approximate peer conferences in terms of weighting. Awards data were provided by the conferences, and we could only use conferences that chose to provide data. Tiers are as follows:

• HNMUN
• McMUN
• UPMUNC, ChoMUN, NCSC
• CMUNNY, BarMUN, LAMUN, NYUMUNC
• VICS, UCBMUN, &MUN, SCSY
• TrojanMUN, MUNE, SBIMUN, UNCMUNC, CIAC, QMUNI
• AggieMUN, FLCS, PDI, FCMUN
• PUNC, DISCon, 305MUN, SMUNCI

Proposed Changes to Future Methodology: Best Delegate may consider having a minimum delegate attendance at a conference in order for it to qualify for inclusion above in order to capture the quality difference between competitive conferences and training conferences or scrimmages. Secondly, the current methodology does not place a cap in the number of conferences a team can score from, but one consideration to better capture the balance between quality and quantity is to take the “top x” scores regardless of number of conferences attended (e.g. Top 7 scores from 9 conferences attended).

Editors’ Notes

Best Delegate Co-Founder Kevin Felix Chan and Executive Director of Operations Erik Leiden led the data calculations for the ranking and final editing of the narratives in this article. Editor of BD Content Genevieve Pool put in a tremendous amount of work to make this year’s college rankings possible through the input of raw data, the sourcing of bios, and the editing of this article. Social Media Director Madeleine Northfield edited and wrote conference recognition posts in order to advertise and hype up our annual rankings release.

Each year, rankings margins become closer and closer as teams from all regions of North America change their strategy and learn from each other in the process of competition. This year, rankings and awards were more competitive than ever, and the Best Delegate team would like to acknowledge each and every school in their active participation on the circuit and their increased efforts to inclusivity and diversity. As my tenure as Editor in Chief draws to a close, I would like to thank my media team for an incredible year. Particularly, I’d like to thank my editors (Gen, Curan) and my Social Media Director (Maddy) for holding me up when I was down, for keeping the website updated with interesting new articles, and for keeping me sane when rankings seasons came around.”

Final placement below should be compared to the 2017-2018 Final Rankings as opposed to the 2018 Fall Rankings.

1. Florida International University

Florida International University has knocked the University of Chicago off the Iron Throne of MUN rankings, claiming the number 1 spot for the first time in its competitive history. This is the culmination of nine years worth of hard work switching over from the NMUN circuit to rise steadily up into the Top 5 of the rankings, and now to claim the #1 spot. FIU attended a whopping 14 conferences, sweeping the circuit with the most individual awards (more than 120, including the second most gavels) and the most delegation awards (nine). No other college MUN team came close in any of those measurements. Keep in mind this is a team that had to fly to travel to almost all of its conferences, so it has worked to overcome funding disadvantages caused by not being located in the Northeast.

Out of its nine delegation awards, five were large delegation awards and four were small delegation awards, showing that FIU has nearly perfected its delegation size strategy for ratios. FIU earned five Best Small Delegation awards across the country, including one at McMUN in Canada, two on the West Coast at LAMUN and UCBMUN, and the two others coming from &MUN and FLCS. It was able to receive the Best Large Delegation award from HNMUN for the first time in team history by effectively competing in the GAs there and by having an optimal ratio compared to large delegation rivals UPenn and UChicago. The team also won a Best Large at NCSC, an Outstanding Large at BarMUN, and an Outstanding Large at MUNE. It contended for two more delegation awards with a second place finish at ChoMUN and a fourth place finish at UPMUNC in terms of weighted score. And the team rounded its travel-intensive resume with solid performances at CMUNNY, VICS, and 305MUN. Widely respected across the circuit for the training and hard work that the team puts in every year, FIU demonstrated this year that any university — including public schools outside of the elite Northeast — can become the #1 team in college Model UN.

Former head delegate and current advisor Michelle Rosario compliments the new attitude that the FIU team has taken on: “Since the start of the season, we wanted to emphasize diplomacy in every facet, from how we treat our peers on the team, to other delegates on the circuit, to the character that we humbly strive to uphold day to day.  This year we were so delighted to find out what could happen if we came together collaboratively, our team dynamic and values truly made the difference at every conference we traveled to. We will carry the lessons, the laughs, the happy tears, as well as the memories in our hearts and we can’t wait to see everyone again in the fall. Special thank you and goodbye to our remarkable graduating head delegates: Syed Fuad Adnan, Alexander Morales, and Mario Treto.”

2. Georgetown University

Georgetown swooped back in to take the #2 rank, a spot they held onto for five consecutive years before last year, by amassing 100 individual awards this year which is the second most on the circuit. Georgetown won four delegation awards but had the unfortunate luck of missing out on delegation awards at six conferences due to ratios as it came in no lower than third place at all of its conferences this year. Their four delegation awards came from deploying a southern strategy, and they won Outstanding Small at VICS, Outstanding Small at &MUN, Best Small at MUNE, and Best Small at UNCMUNC. In the Northeast, the team came up third three times at CMUNNY, NYUMUNC, and BarMUN.

But the real reason why Georgetown is ranked #2 is because it absolutely dominated at an increasingly competitive and larger McMUN — it earned over double the weighted score than the large delegation award winners there — and also placed first in weighted score at ChoMUN and second in weighted score at UPMUNC. The team also attended WorldMUN (not counted in the rankings), where every delegate won an award. So despite not having the delegation awards to show for it, Georgetown was arguably the #1 or #2 team at the most competitive conferences it participated in this year. The team was able to accomplish all this by providing as many travel opportunities as it can to its students, without having tryouts, interviews, or rejections to anyone from the team. Georgetown also hosted an increasingly competitive NCSC in the Fall. After an impressive performance like this year’s, we have to wonder if Georgetown is going to start another streak of #2 placements — or even gear up to take the top spot next year.

Conferences Coordinator Zac Schroepfer shares his Georgetown pride by saying: “Team GU MUN has had a wonderful semester. Adding on some smaller teams to go to conferences we have not traditionally attended, while also expanding teams to conferences we’ve always gone to has allowed us to both bring in more people from Georgetown to the team, while also enabling us to meet more delegates from a variety of schools and geographies! We have an amazing class of seniors that will be missed by the team, but the senior class is excited to see where the team goes in the future under the leadership of the new Head Delegate Suraag! Hoya Saxa!”

3. University of Pennsylvania

The University of Pennsylvania won the third most individual awards this year and the most gavels on the circuit, which enabled the team to finish third in the rankings. The team won the second most delegation awards on the circuit this year with 7 out of the 9 conferences it attended, the highest ratio on the circuit. UPenn performed best at the mid-sized crisis conferences this year, taking home five Best Large Delegations from ChoMUN, NYUMUNC, CMUNNY, VICS, and SCSY. It also received an Outstanding Small Delegation at BarMUN and contended for a delegation award at NCSC. Its best performance, however, came at HNMUN, where it tied for first place in terms of weighted score at won the Outstanding Large Delegation award. The team also won awards at McMUN, and it hosted UPMUNC in the Fall. Augmenting its reputation for maintaining their work hard/play hard mentality with its new brand of blasting music at closing ceremonies across the country, the University of Pennsylvania brings constant reminders to others on the circuit that they are not just strong forces in the committee room, but are loud personalities in real life too.

Incoming Director of Intercol Jay Vaingankar and Director Emeritus for Life Samuel Becker Dvorak, First of His Name, Winner of Gavels, the Unconscious had this to say about the team’s success this year: “Despite outgoing Director Noah Levine’s advanced age, horrible jokes, and frequent trips behind enemy lines, and vice Director David Wang’s meager 3.9 GPA, deep V-necks, and bad cop routine, Intercol still managed to have a wildly successful year, all thanks to the best draft class in Intercol history. We’d like to dedicate our success this year to Loud Luxury, Baby Shark, and Darude Sandstorm. When all is said and done, we could not be more proud of our rock-solid family, who shared every success and every struggle this year, and we’re looking forward to being the rowdy crew in the back left of many closing ceremonies to come. Thanks to board for your leadership, to this year’s freshmen for sharing your lives with us, and to the whole squad for making Penn a home that we all love.”

4. University of Chicago

UChicago is still the only team to have maintained a top 5 ranking in nearly a decade of the college rankings. Despite attending the fewest conferences of any top ten team — and half the number of conferences as FIU — the team collected the fourth most awards and third most gavels en route to winning delegation awards at five of the seven conferences it attended. Its best performance was actually at HNMUN, where it tied for first place but lost out on a delegation award due to a non-committee issue. UChicago showed it was a consistently top five team this year, winning Best Large at UPMUNC, Best Large at BarMUN, Outstanding Large at CMUNNY, Outstanding Large at UCBMUN, and Outstanding Small at McMUN. It also contended for a delegation award at NCSC where it finished third. UChicago also hosted ChoMUN to finish the season.

Outgoing president RJ Ruano raved most about his team’s close bond: “While everyone loves taking pictures with award certificates and little hammers; I’ve always told our team that in the end, Model UN should be about a lot more. I’m so proud to say that this year, UChicago prioritized community and learning above all else. Our team brought vastly different delegations to each conference, with most individual delegates only traveling 1-3 times total. The success we had with this structure is remarkable, and it’s truly owed to the extensive support network we benefit from. This team really is a family, and the relationships it cultivates go further than Model UN. I’d like to thank all UChicago delegates for everything you’ve given to one another and to me personally. I’ll miss learning from you while we camp in airports and spend sleepless weekends together. Being your president will always be among the best things I’ve done. I hope you keep being great leaders wherever you go, and I wish everyone the best for next year and beyond!”

5. American University

American University is now a powerhouse team after placing into the top five for the first time in team history for its highest ranking ever. The team strategically divided into different delegations to increase its circuit clout this year, sending different groups of people to conferences that were on similar or the same weekend, using a mix of large and small delegations, and training its team to be equally good in GA and Crisis. The team won delegation awards at half the ten conferences it attended this year, with its crowning achievement being Best Large Delegation at McMUN. It also received Outstanding Small at UPMUNC, Outstanding Small at ChoMUN, Outstanding Large at NYUMUNC, and Best Small at BarMUN. American finished fifth among North American teams (behind only UChicago, UPenn, Yale, and FIU) at HNMUN, and had the highest weighted score when in full force at NCSC. The team also won awards at the mid-sized crisis conferences of CMUNNY, VICS, and &MUN. The current senior class is the first in school history to finish all four years with a ranked team, and it will be up to the next generation to maintain a high rank — and perhaps become the top team in Washington DC.

Head delegate Zachary Bontempo talks about his team’s strategy and mentality going into the 2018-2019 year: “Last season AU lost a very large senior class, but our performance this year proves that our team has built a lasting competitive foundation, and that we intend to be a force on the circuit for years to come. AU saw a record number of new members try out this year, and this resulted in many freshmen getting the opportunity to travel and award at some of the most intense conferences on the circuit. We credit some of our best results to our phenomenal new members, as well as the more rigorous GA and crisis training that was implemented this year. In addition to improving our competitive standing, AU has also continued our team’s tradition of building a supportive team community, and maintaining a strong campus presence. Our team camaraderie got stronger at every conference, and it’s no surprise that our results continued to get better as well. It has been an absolute pleasure to lead this team through our most competitive season yet, and I can’t wait to see what new heights AU will reach in the future!”

6. University of California, Los Angeles

UCLA finished its year with its highest ranking ever, and tied for the highest ranking ever by any West Coast team (Claremont McKenna was #6 in 2014-15). UCLA swept at all four West Coast conferences in dominating fashion, winning Best Large Delegation at UCBMUN, Best Large Delegation at TrojanMUN, Best Small Delegation at SBIMUN, and Best Large Delegation at AggieMUN. In addition to its win at UCBMUN to show that it could compete against the best teams across the nation, UCLA won a Best Small Delegation at ChoMUN and the most gavels there, and placed seventh among North American teams at HNMUN. It also received awards at McMUN and CMUNNY. Ultimately, the team won the sixth most individual awards and fifth most gavels on the circuit. The current senior class is the first in school history to finish all four years with a ranked team, and it will be up to the next generation to carry the mantle that MUN teams can thrive outside of the East Coast — and perhaps break into the top five. UCLA also hosted LAMUN, which has invested in recruiting enough competitive teams to attend to become the highest weighted conference on the West Coast this year.

Head delegates Justin, Malvika, and Elaine highlighted the UCLA team’s changing culture as the most important part of their success: “It was a great privilege to be able to lead such a passionate and committed group of new and experienced delegates this past year. Watching our team put together what was far and away the most successful season that Model UN at UCLA has ever had made this year an unforgettable experience for us. This year’s team won more individual awards and more delegation awards than any past UCLA travel team. An equally important accomplishment was our delegates’ consistent effort to create an increasingly inclusive team environment and the commitment displayed toward continuing that effort forward. What we are by far most proud of, however, is the work ethic, talent, and desire to continually improve exhibited by all of our delegates. We can’t wait to see the amazing leadership skills of our three incoming head delegates, Mitansh, Dan, and Adi. They give us complete confidence that next year’s team has the potential to accomplish even more than this year’s.”

7. Harvard University

Harvard won the seventh most individual awards this year and ultimately placed seventh in the rankings this year. The team had two noticeable achievements in terms of awards. First, the team had a few superstar delegates this year as nearly 33% of their individual awards were gavels. Second, the head delegates did a great job optimizing for delegation award ratios, as the team captured six delegation awards at the eight conferences it attended. Harvard won Outstanding Large at UPMUNC, Outstanding Large at ChoMUN, Outstanding Large at NCSC, Best Large at LAMUN, Best Small at NYUMUNC, and Best Small at SCSY. It also contended for delegation awards at CMUNNY and UCBMUN. Harvard hosted the most competitive conference, HNMUN, and also WorldMUN in Madrid this year.

Head delegates Jenna Wong and Safa discuss their mindset throughout this year: “Harvard Intercollegiate Model United Nations prides itself on finding a balance between achieving competitive success and creating a tight-knit team community. We certainly believe that we have accomplished both of these goals, as every delegate who has traveled with the team has put their heart and soul into both the activity of MUN and the social community on the circuit. We are especially proud of the many new members of the team who have surpassed all of our expectations for their involvement. But at the end of the day, our team measures our successes most by the strength of the friendships and connections that our delegates create. We look forward to continuing this and all aspects of our team’s mission in the year to come under the leadership of our new Head Delegates: Davis Tyler-Dudley, Alec Fischthal, Simon Cremer, and Katie Sakys.”

8. Florida State University

The Florida State World Affairs Program had a phenomenal season by dominating the southern circuit and bringing home four Best Large Delegation awards from &MUN, MUNE, FLCS, and UNCMUNC. The team is a beneficiary of the weightings adjustment in the rankings methodology that closed the gap between large and small conferences, which encourages teams to attend more regional conferences, and it was clear that FSU was one of the teams to beat in the southern region this year. In addition to hosting the Regional Training Conference (RTC), FSU also won awards at UPMUNC, NCSC, UCBMUN, and BarMUN. Florida State University’s MUN program celebrated its 33rd anniversary and has made incredible efforts towards the continued sustainability of the competitive travel team.

Outgoing Program Director and Senior, Richard Sommers, had the following to say about the FSU team: “Florida State University’s year on the circuit was one defined with incredible new and dedicated talent, that represents a bright and sustainable future for our Model UN program. Watching underclassmen carry our torch has been an incredibly rewarding experience, and I am so proud of the exponential growth that they experienced this year. FSU WAP is thankful that it can continually show its talent on the Model United Nations circuit with the fantastic support of its 33 years of Alumni and from throughout the University. The team is undoubtedly only going to get even bigger and better due to their hard work and persistence. I look forward to witnessing their continued success on the circuit next year representing our incredible university.”

9. George Washington University

The George Washington University finished its year in the top 10 by bringing a strong presence and competitive debate to each of the eight conferences it attended (two fewer than last year). GW’s ranking is primarily due to consistently winning many individual awards, showing that bringing in individual awards can propel a team to the top just as much as delegation awards can. This included an Outstanding Small Delegation at CMUNNY and contending for delegation awards with top five placements at McMUN and VICS. The team also placed within the top ten teams at UPMUNC, ChoMUN, NCSC, and BarMUN. Last but not least, it put in a solid performance at HNMUN.

New head delegate Kyle Nichols reflects on his year as a delegate and leader: “GW MUN is always pushing itself for constant and consistent improvement. Years come and years go, but this year GW put on an excellent showing. Whether it was our competitive performances at ChoMUN or at HNMUN, or our stellar performances as a team at our own High School and Middle School Conferences, GWMUN has had a great year. After so many ups and downs we are so proud of our amazing team this year! We hope to use the immense growth our programme has seen this year to springboard us into 2019-2020!”

10. Claremont McKenna College

Claremont McKenna is back in the Top 10 for its highest ranking since the 2014-15 school year — the highest for this current graduating class. CMC’s strength this year was in its impeccable GA strategy, with over half its total individual awards coming from General Assembly delegates. The team dominated the West Coast, winning an Outstanding Large Delegation at LAMUN, a Best Small Delegation at TrojanMUN, a Best Large Delegation at SBIMUN, and contended for a delegation award at UCBMUN. On the East Coast, it captured a Best Small Delegation at NCSC and won a few awards at the more competitive conferences of HNMUN, McMUN, and UPMUNC. But its signature performance was at WorldMUN (not counted in the rankings), where it repeated as the Best Small Delegation and is currently on a dominating run of winning the Best Small Delegation there for five of the past eight years.

Incoming President Sahib Bhasin comments on his team’s diligence and hard work throughout the year: “CMCMUN’s year was marked by triumphs — we took in a historically large class of freshman; performed exceptionally well on the East and West Coasts; and brought home the crown yet again from WorldMUN. Notably, LAMUN saw us clinch an outstanding large delegation with a wide range of awards, in our opinion the best way to do well. Although I’m happy about these highs, I’m most proud of how this team dealt with its lows: growing pains, a tough travel schedule, and the need to constantly evolve. Like any great team, we banded together, had a good time, and were there for each other when we needed it most. A special thanks to last year’s leadership and the outgoing seniors for helping make that happen. This year, we hope not only to replicate our success on the circuit but also to continue making reforms — diversifying our roster, improving our training schedule, and expanding our role on campus.”

11. United States Military Academy at West Point

West Point was able to hold their own against the top teams and maintain a spot in the rankings by attending the second most conferences among Top 25 teams. This is part of their mission to foster better military-civilian understanding across the country and the world. Traditionally a small team, West Point decided to shake up its strategy this year and send a few large delegations. They are noticeable for more than just their distinct uniforms, constantly up at the front during closing ceremonies with top 5 showings at CMUNNY, SCSY, and NYUMUNC, and top 10 at NCSC, UPMUNC, BarMUN McMUN, UCBMUN, and LAMUN. They also won awards at HNMUN and ChoMUN. Their pair of delegation awards were Best Small Delegation at CMUNNY and Outstanding Small Delegation at LAMUN.

Cadet-in-Charge John Govern talks about West Point’s year of growth: “Having a roster featuring many new and highly performing young delegates, this year was an opportunity for the team to grow and develop. The West Point team implemented new training practices and consistently picked up gavels or delegation awards at conferences. The entire team, from our experienced seniors to our newest members, built together an effective organization. With my time as head delegate drawing to a close, it has been an incredible honor and privilege to have lead our team and accomplished our current record. Above all, I am confident that each team member is better prepared for their future as US Army officers with the skills, experience, and lessons learned through Model UN. The West Point Model UN team will be lead next year by Hunter Hill, who I know will steward the team to continued success and excellence as its leader.” Go Army!

12. University of California, Berkeley

UC Berkeley remains one of the most consistent Top 15 teams on the college circuit, with a steady increase from 14 to 13 to 12 in ranking over the past three years. The team won one delegation award — an Outstanding Large Delegation award at TrojanMUN — but its success is more attributed to racking up a large number of individual awards that rival most of the Top 10 teams. A good example is at LAMUN, where they had the highest weighted score but likely missed out on a delegation award due to ratio. Other awards came from HNMUN, UPMUNC, ChoMUN, CMUNNY, VICS, and AggieMUN. They hosted UCBMUN in the spring, which made a massive effort to provide a safe and comfortable space for all delegates through partnering with PATH to Care, a resource and support network for survivors of sexual harassment and violence. UCB shows themselves to be not only competitive delegates, but also ones who work intentionally to make the circuit a better place.

Head delegates Rose Meinrath and Tanner Yamada look back on their past year leading the UCBMUN team: “UCBMUN made a distinctive shift this year, from a team into a family. This transformation speaks for itself, with the highest number of individual awards earned, highest retention rates, and most dedicated participation this club has seen in recent history. We are so incredibly proud of the work the delegates of UCBMUN have done to create a club, a conference, and a team that fosters a sense of community not just within our own club, but on the circuit as a whole. Although many of our beloved seniors are graduating this year, UCBMUN is in great hands, and we can’t wait to see what they do next!”

13. University of Southern California

The University of Southern California has maintained the incredible growth to achieve their highest ever ranking this Fall and their highest ever end-of-year ranking by breaking into the Top 15. USC did best on the West Coast with Outstanding Large Delegation awards at SBIMUN and AggieMUN and contended for a delegation award at LAMUN. Its ranking is also buoyed by an impressive showing at HNMUN, where it placed sixth among US-based teams (behind only top teams like UChicago, UPenn, Yale, FIU, and American). The team rounded out its resume with awards at UCBMUN, UPMUNC, and CMUNNY.  USC hosted TrojanMUN, which boasted diverse committee types and a 3:1 delegate to staff ratio.

Team President Larissa Qian had the following to say: “Over the past year, USC Model United Nations has shown unprecedented growth with an increased presence at east coast conferences. We were also thrilled to host our best TrojanMUN  yet and are eager to host an even more exciting edition this October. This past year, MUNSC was excited to welcome a very strong young and talented group of new members and we are extremely excited for where the next few years will take us.”

14. College of William & Mary

William & Mary has been fluctuating between being in and out of the Top 25 in the past four years, but this year they shot up seven places from their Fall ranking for their highest ranking since the 2012-13 school year. While they did not bring home any delegation awards this year — they are the highest ranked team to not do so — they proved to be competitors at the most competitive conferences and showed clear improvement throughout the year. After primarily winning Honorables and Verbals in the Fall at UPMUNC, NCSC, CMUNNY, SCSY, and BarMUN, William & Mary contended for a delegation award and placed second at McMUN and won several gavels at HNMUN and ChoMUN. Their collegiate crisis conference, &MUN, not only reached its biggest registration yet, but also prioritized diplomacy, women and diversity, and substance.

According to outgoing head delegate Seth Fiderer, “This past year, the William & Mary team destroyed all expectations. We hit our stride and saw an immense amount of growth throughout the year. Some highlights include our highest awards total at McMUN in years, with most of our awards coming from underclassmen, an outstanding performance at HNMUN where a freshman partnership gaveled a GA, and winning five awards at ChoMUN, including two gavels, our best performance to date. This year we totally revamped our training structure and conference strategy to finally find a good balance between accessibility for new members and our competitive edge, and we saw many first time delegates award in competitive committees. William & Mary has had a phenomenal year, and will surely continue this momentum forward to next year under the leadership of incoming head delegate, Graham Pfeiffer.”

15. Indiana University

After breaking into the Top 25 for the first time last year, IU not only furthered their upward trend but has the distinction for being the highest ranked Big Ten team this year. They traveled to five ranked conferences this year, the lowest number of the Top 15, but awarded consistently at each. The team actually contended for delegation awards at most of them but likely missed out due to ratio — it placed second at VICS, fourth at BarMUN, fifth at ChoMUN, and sixth at NCSC. The team also won awards at UPMUNC.

President and Chairman of Indiana MUN Andrew Greco shared the following: “This past year IndianaMUN has experienced tremendous growth and continued our momentum from Spring 2018. The organization managed to win multiple awards at every conference it attended resulting in our best circuit performance in the organization’s 7-year history. Focus on research and preparation along with an incredible group of first and second year delegates, under the guidance and support of older members, helped to repeatedly propel IndianaMUN to success throughout the year. I and the rest of the IndianaMUN Board of Directors are very excited to work with our delegates and continue to see their success over the coming year. We hope to firmly establish ourselves as one of the most consistently successful teams on the circuit.”

16. Princeton University

Princeton has the highest rise of any ranked team this year, shooting from a one-year dip into the Top 75 in 2018 to their highest ranking ever. Competing primarily as a small delegation and exclusively at competitive East Coast conferences, Princeton started the year strong by taking home a Best Small Delegation award at UPMUNC and an Outstanding Small Delegation award at SCSY. The team also consistently won awards at HNMUN, McMUN, CMUNNY, NYUMUNC, and NCSC. Princeton also won an Outstanding Small Delegation award at WorldMUN (not counted in the rankings), and revamped its college conference into PDI. With so many changes, Princeton will become a team to watch on the circuit next year.

Harry Shapiro, the Deputy Captain of the Princeton MUN Team, shared that “This year has been a wild ride for PMUNT – we’ve made a number of changes over the past eighteen months, and our recent success is thanks to the hard work of everyone on the team. We’ve had a number of incredibly talented freshmen and sophomores join the team over the past year, and veteran members have stepped up to do incredible jobs in leadership roles. I think that when we won Outstanding Small at SCSY, our first delegation award after a long drought, we realized just how special the group we’d brought together this year was. After winning as a delegation again at UPMUNC and WorldMUN and having excellent individual showings at NCSC, McMUN, HNMUN, and NYUMUNC, the 2018-19 team has shown just how extraordinary it is.”

17. Boston University

Boston University is starting to develop a reputation as a comeback team, as this is the second year in a row where it had to makeup a weaker Fall performance with a strong Spring performance to maintain its place in the rankings. After not being ranked in the Top 25 in the Fall despite winning some awards at NCSC and UPMUNC, BU stormed back by repeating as the Outstanding Large Delegation award winner at McMUN and by receiving the Outstanding Small Delegation award at UCBMUN on a rare West Coast sighting. The team rounded out its Spring with solid performances at HNMUN and ChoMUN. BU also hosted BarMUN, which has now become a staple on the Fall circuit.

Incoming Head Delegate Julia Mullert had this to say: “The Boston University International Affairs Association continues to be a consistently ranked team, pulling delegation awards at McMUN and UCBMUN, as well as strong performances at NCSC and ChoMUN. The organization also hosted a rapidly growing collegiate conference, BarMUN. Under the leadership of Head Delegate Danielle Wallner, we had a year of growth and development with the youngest team in the history of the organization. The Boston University team has had a year of exceptional growth with an extremely talented new class of recruits. We are incredibly excited to see where next year takes us, and are grateful for our seniors, who will be dearly missed.”

18. McGill University

Traveling to only five conferences this year, McGill maintained their consistent presence in the Top 25 through being a competitive delegation and raking in awards each time they traveled. The team started the school year strong by taking home an Outstanding Large Delegation award at SCSY and and Outstanding Small Delegation award at NCSC. Afterward, the team put in solid performances at UPMUNC and HNMUN before closing out the year with a Best Small Delegation award at VICS. McGill hosted a noticeably larger and more competitive McMUN this year.

19. Emory University

Emory is a perennial Top 25 team and maintained a strong presence on the circuit this year. The team did best at two smaller southern conferences — it won Best Large Delegation at DISCon and Outstanding Large Delegation at &MUN. However, it also had solid performances at HNMUN, UPMUNC, ChoMUN, BarMUN, and FLCS, showing that their delegates are adaptable to different committee types. The team’s slight dip in ranking is primarily due to traveling to two fewer conferences this year. Emory also hosted an increasingly larger MUNE.

Head delegate Jake Grant Gore shares the following: “Though it will be difficult to say goodbye to a number of graduating students who were instrumental in making the Emory team what it is today, they will be leaving behind strong foundations and an expectation of excellence. 2018-2019 saw an incredible new pool of talent join Emory’s team through many first years with amazing potential, as well as continued success from our returning members. Our crowning achievement this year was MUNE VII, where we were able to run a number of highly ambitious committees, including a 24 hour crisis committee and an Ad-Hoc JCC.”

20. Clark University

Clark had previously been a perennial Top 25 team, and the team is back in the rankings after a two-year drop-off. The team saw massive growth in number of awards this year while traveling to eight conferences, including the five most competitive ones: HNMUN, McMUN, UPMUNC, ChoMUN, NCSC, NYUMUNC, BarMUN, FCMUN. Unlike previous years when it relied on a strong performance at HNMUN to maintain a spot in the rankings, this year’s team was much more consistent across the conferences it attended.

Head Delegates August and Antonella provided this blurb: “Clark’s Model UN Team rounded off this conference year with a series of wins at both HNMUN and ChoMUN, constituting one of their most successful runs on the circuit of the last few years. Though the team has had to work overtime to overcome some hurdles in the fall semester, their dedication and team spirit has paid off. This year’s Head Delegates are handing off the team to a talented bunch of underclassmen, and can’t wait to see what the future has in store for this team.”

21. New York University

NYU relied on the performances of its top delegates this year, as 40% of the individual awards they won were gavels, the highest percentage of any team in the Top 25. The team tended to do better at the mid-sized crisis conferences like ChoMUN, NCSC, CMUNNY, and SCSY than at the large competitive conferences like HNMUN and UPMUNC. They also won a Best Small Delegation at the smaller FCMUN. Breaking tradition for being road warriors on the circuit, this year’s team attended two fewer conferences than last year’s. They also ran a memorable joint crisis conference in NYUMUNC.

Incoming head delegate Remie Arena paid tribute to some of the greats of NYU’s team, writing: “Led by head delegates Areesha Irfan and Mohammed Sharaf, the NYU MUN team has had an incredible year on the circuit and at home. With a large influx of new delegates this year, we have been able to train and, more importantly, create friendships with a vast number of under class-men and upper class-men alike. We were awarded a Best Small Delegation and many other individual awards. Sadly, we must say goodbye to our lovely seniors—Areesha Irfan, Margaret Zhang, and Luc Lavatai—who have been so integral to our team the past few years. Still, we are incredibly excited to see where our talented delegates will lead us next year and could not be prouder of our 2018-2019 NYU MUN family.”

22. Columbia University

After dropping from the Top 25 by a narrow margin last year for the first time ever, Columbia has jumped back into the Top 25 by awarding at 7 conferences this year. While predominantly crisis conferences like NYUMUNC, &MUN, and ChoMUN posed some challenges, with only a few small awards received, Columbia made up for this at competitive conferences with powerful GA performances. The team put in a solid performance at HNMUN and contended for a delegation award at UPMUNC. They also won a Best Small Delegation award at the smaller CIAC.

Head delegates Berkley and Dylan discussed the inclusivity and learning-focused culture, writing that “Columbia’s delegation has continued to set a foundation for future success by putting people first. Our long-standing no-cut policy has grown both our roster and our place in the Model U.N. community. We’re proud to say that our entire organization, not just the travel team, encourages a culture where Columbia delegates contribute to a positive learning environment in and outside of committee. This year we continued to grow our conferences (CMUNNY, CMUNCE, CESIMS), and secured our highest fall ranking in years. We’re excited to build upon our success and connect with others over our love of diplomacy and culture well into the future!”

23. The Ohio State University

The Ohio State University is back in the final Top 25 for the first time since the 2014-15 school year, which is a first for the current class of graduated seniors. This is due in part to their taking on two additional conferences, with many more awards and double the amount of gavels the Buckeyes received last year. Ohio State was consistent with winning awards all year at McMUN, UPMUNC, ChoMUN, NCSC, CMUNNY, and BarMUN. Their best performance was at the smaller PUNC, where they received half of the gavels available and Best Large delegation.

According to head delegate Piper Womelsdorf, “The Ohio State University’s Model UN team, run by the Collegiate Council on World Affairs experienced a year of exciting growth and change as the team welcomed in one of its largest new member classes ever. Our new members displayed an impressive dedication to learning and competing on the circuit, and the team as a whole experienced a renewed enthusiasm for MUN. This was a transitional year for the Ohio State team and we feel that we are on an upward trajectory. We are incredibly proud of our team’s performance this year and are looking forward to continued growth and success.”

24. Yale University

Yale can compete against the best teams when it needs to. This was demonstrated by its third place performance and contending for a large delegation award at HNMUN, the most competitive conference. The team also won awards in the Fall at UPMUNC and BarMUN. Yale’s lower place in this aggregate scoring-based ranking is because they attend the fewest conferences of any team in the Top 25. The team also had competitive success at WorldMUN (not counted in the rankings) and hosted SCSY.

Head Delegate Victoria Mak reflected on a season of growth for Yale: “The 2018-19 season was transformative for our team. The Model United Nations Team at Yale (MUNTY) invested in training younger delegates and was well-served by doing so—many new members won awards for the first time. On the whole, the team had strong showings at HNMUN and WorldMUN, where delegates brought home gavels and more than 75% of our team won awards. As the incoming head delegate, I’m excited to build on those successes by focusing on the personal growth of our delegates and continually strengthening the MUNTY family.”

25. Concordia University

Concordia University has made the top 25 team for the first time in its history, due to its strategic attendance of key competitive conferences and their commendable performances at each. After warming up their season at the competitive NCSC and UPMUNC, Concordia contended for a delegation award at McMUN in their home city of Montreal, Canada. It then followed up with a solid performance at HNMUN, the most competitive conference of the year. If Concordia continues to represent their team well at highly ranked conferences, they could continue this admirable growth for years to come.

Anthony Di Benedetto, President of the Concordia External Delegation, shared that “Concordia’s quest in getting its name on the circuit has finally been rewarded with breakthroughs in many highly competitive conferences. With awards at HNMUN, MCMUN and NAMUN, Concordia has a become a force to be reckoned with. As a growing and passionate family our strength comes from the fact that every delegate plays a part in the success of another. Concordia will always continue to surprise while upholding its values, the legacy of its veterans and the vision of its freshman. Being the most tchatcheur delegation we’ll make sure our voices are heard. ‘Day by day we get better and when we win it won’t be by luck.”

Top 50 (alphabetical order)

The five teams closest to breaking into the Top 25 were: Michigan State, Florida, Miami, Tennessee, and Michigan. 

• Carleton University
• Cornell University
• Elon University
• Michigan State University
• Northeastern University
• Northwestern University
• Pomona College
• Queen’s University
• Seton Hall University
• Tufts University
• United States Air Force Academy
• University of Alabama
• University of California, Davis
• University of California, Santa Cruz
• University of Central Florida
• University of Connecticut
• University of Florida
• University of Maryland
• University of Miami
• University of Michigan
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• University of Tennessee, Knoxville
• University of Texas at Austin
• University of Virginia
• Wilfred Laurier University 

Top 75 (alphabetical order)

• Brown University
• Carleton College
• Case Western Reserve University
• College of the Canyons
• George Mason University
• Ithaca College
• Johns Hopkins University
• Kutztown University
• Middlebury College
• Norwich University
• Pennsylvania State University
• Royal Military College
• Ryerson University
• Stanford University
• State University of New York, Geneseo
• Tulane University
• University of California, San Diego
• University of Georgia
• University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
• University of Notre Dame
• University of Toronto Mississauga
• Vanderbilt University
• Western University
• Wheaton College
• York University

Congratulations to all the College Model UN teams and conferences for a fantastic 2018-2019 school year. Enjoy your summer and see you on the circuit next year!

The post 2018-2019 North American College Model U.N. Final Rankings (World Division) appeared first on Best Delegate Model United Nations.

Letters of recommendation are one of the most underrated and important components of a successful college application because it helps differentiate students from everyone else who has good grades, good test scores, and ample participation in Model UN. Top students know they need solid letters of recommendation from their teachers in order to get into top colleges.

Here’s the problem: teachers do not have enough observation opportunities during Model UN conferences to be able to write richly detailed letters of recommendation. Usually they only catch snippets of students lobbying or negotiating in a crowd when they walk into the committee room, and if they are lucky they get to see their student make one speech all weekend.

Here’s the opportunity: Be a Model UN Club Officer. Teachers respect club officers. Why? Because club officers are the best educators — they demonstrate leadership and bring out the best in the rest of the club’s students. And club officers provide the most valuable thing possible for a teacher — they save them time by doing all the things needed to run a club that the teacher doesn’t have time to do! Lastly, they actually get to observe club officers in action because their efforts take place in their classroom after school!

Here are some opportunities to demonstrate leadership depending on where you are in your Model UN journey:

You’re an incoming Model UN Student Officer already

Great! What type of legacy are you going to leave? In other words, what difference will you have made so that next year’s student officers are set up with an even better club? This could be increasing club membership and culture through better recruitment and retention strategies. This could be selecting more challenging conferences to attend and implementing a training plan to prepare for them. Or this could be starting your own mock conference for novice delegates at your school or middle school students in your district.

Make some goals that you and your fellow club officers want to achieve this year, set up a plan of action items to do, and then execute through regular meetings. Learn some of the best practices and case studies for student officers at the Model UN Institute Secretary-General program.

You want to become a Model UN Student Officer

What are the most important things that the club needs to improve on? You have to identify those areas of weaknesses in your club and come up with ways to improve them. This could be helping your team prepare for MUN conferences by running practice simulations, doing trainings on public speaking, or giving feedback to each other’s position papers. This could be mentoring newer delegates. Demonstrating proactive leadership is what makes the advisors and fellow members more confident that you are ready to become a club officer next year.

Share the experiences you have gained as a delegate or resources and research you have compiled over time. Learn from the Model UN Institute’s Ambassador program (advanced delegate skills) or Crisis program (crisis simulation skills) so that you can go back and teach those to your delegates.

You want to start a Model UN Club at Your School

This is perhaps the most difficult but most rewarding opportunity available! Starting a Model UN club is a lot of work but presents a lot of sustained opportunities for leadership — moments that will make great stories for letters of recommendation and the personal essay.

There are a lot of basic things to figure out at this stage, and trial and error is normal. The most important is just making sure that students “get” Model UN and love doing it so that the new club is sustainable. Pick a novice conference to go to, get everyone to sign up for it, and then focus all your training preparing for it. That will get all the new members on the same journey and rowing the same boat.

The fundamentals of Model UN can be learned at the Model UN Institute’s Diplomat program (for high school) or Junior Diplomat program (for middle school).

The post The Secret to a Strong Letter of Recommendation for College? Be a Model UN Club Officer. appeared first on Best Delegate Model United Nations.

This is a guest article submitted by Marcie Doll. She is a former teacher and Model UN faculty advisor at CD Hylton High School in Virginia.

As I was observing my 1^st period World Studies II students participate in a simulation on instability on the Korean Peninsula, I realized that my students who participated in our high school Model UN earned the highest grades.  They were better researched and asked higher-level questions, debated their fellow sophomores with a maturity beyond their years, and their public speaking blew away their non-MUNers. The Model UN Club members all earned A’s.  And my fellow Model UN Advisor saw the same with his classes.

We had to face the reality that the same kind of student joined our club each year — the top 10 percent of highly motivated students with strong parental support at home. How could we recruit more students into our Model UN Club and be more inclusive?

Students recruiting other students.  Our in-class recruitment efforts could only get us so far, so we talked with our student leadership to actively recruit for more members.  We openly talked about our observations of exclusivity and how we needed to draw our circle wider for our club members. At the same time, we developed more dynamic brochures for the fall club fair and freshman orientation and a motivated all club members to recruit in classes.  

Induction and beginning level support. We may be able to get new students to join, but how can we get them to stay?  When I first joined Model UN over 30 years ago as a middle schooler,  I was a bit overwhelmed by position papers, debate, and how to research my country. But I had an advisor that spent time with all of the new members to make us feel more comfortable. And, I was lucky to have my older brother who served as my mentor and who I could openly debate with at the kitchen table.  For our program, we focused on building a year-long induction program and had experienced students partner with the newbies. We included social gatherings more to help everyone get to know each other better and have more fun outside of our competitions.

Dealing with the “academic chip on the shoulder.”  Yes, this was a problem for our Model UN Club. The students who flocked to Model UN traditionally had been the top 10% in each of the grades at our school.  As we were bringing in new members, we had to really work on the current members in being more inclusive and welcoming. They needed to help the members grow and feel comfortable.  When a pair of new recruits who were also heavily involved in the performing arts won a top prize at the William & Mary conference, our current members started to take notice.

Removing money barriers to participation. We had parents who could afford to pay for local conferences, but not for the college-sponsored conferences we would attend each year.  The money we raised from our own conference shifted to financial aid for students who needed it, but it was not enough if we wanted to include more students.  We fundraised and actively sought sponsors in the community from law firms to local businesses. We also worked with our guidance department to help these families get the aid they needed to increase participation.

Removing time barriers to participation. We had students who played sports or were involved in school plays at different times of the year. They also wanted to join our Model UN program in the off season, but in the past, we had club rules that made their participation impossible.  So, we rewrote the rules to allow more flexibility and honor other commitments of a well-rounded high school student.  This flexibility increased our membership the most and also contributed in other ways, like increased collaboration, sportsmanship, and teamwork, which our team needed to learn. It also went a long way to breaking down some of the artificial barriers between certain groups of students have at the high school level.  

Our club grew significantly as we welcomed new and different members to our club. For me it was just as exciting to see the jocks, nerds, theater kids, military kids and gamers working together as colleagues and become friends.  Hopefully, I have given you some ideas on how to grow your Model UN Club to be more inclusive and diverse.

Want to bring your MUN team to the right conferences? Check out our conference selection guide!

The post Recruiting New Students to Model UN appeared first on Best Delegate Model United Nations.

The way you sound is key to giving an effective and engaging speech – especially as Model UN conferences! By sounding confident and clear, you can make sure that your audience focuses on the main points of your speech, rather than struggling to hear your ideas. Here are the three ways you can improve your sound when giving speeches:

The post VIDEO: 3 Tips to Improve the Way You Sound When Giving a Model United Nations Speech appeared first on Best Delegate Model United Nations.

WIMUN New York is the most accurate simulation of the United Nations! WIMUN New York (High School) is the Flagship edition of WIMUN, other editions include WIMUN India and WIMUN Geneva. WIMUN 2020 (High School) will be the sixth edition of WIMUN Flagship. This year’s conference will take place from January 31st to February 3rd, 2020.

Speakers

Join us at WIMUN 2020 and hear from incredible United Nations Speakers such as  María Fernanda Espinosa, the President of the General Assembly at WIMUN 2019 as well as, Jan Eliasson, the former Deputy-Secretary-General of the United Nations who spoke at WIMUN 2015 in the United Nations Headquarters. Other speakers WIMUN has hosted in the past include Cristina Gallach, the former Under-Secretary-General of the Department of Public Information, Her Excellency Dessima Williams, the former ambassador of Grenada, and Permanent Representatives and Consuls General from Sri Lanka, Denmark, Bangladesh, and other Member States.

The New York Advantage

WIMUN takes place in New York City, at the Grand Hyatt Hotel. New York City is the capital of Diplomacy as the home of the United Nations Headquarters. Delegates get the chance to explore Midtown New York and have lunch at any nearby local food spots that diplomats frequent. New York City is home to wonderful sites like the Empire State Building, Lady Liberty, and Central Park. Come join WIMUN and catch a Broadway Show after the conference!

Staff and Students From All Around The World

One of the benefits of WIMUN is that there is a strong sense of community and a strong bond among staff, despite geographic distance. Our student staff come from across the globe and spend months preparing the conference, mostly online. Once they are on-site there is an immediate staff culture of inclusivity. This extends to the delegates, who have hailed from 60+ countries in the past and have created valuable friendships that strengthened and grown the WIMUN community over the years.

Click here to learn more and apply!

E-mail: wimun@wfuna.org

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One of the perks of attending a summer camp is for students to step out of the typical school world and have a special experience. These camp experiences can be almost a foreshadowing of what college life will be like, including getting to stay at university dorms, or meeting actual college students and getting to see university life firsthand. These experiences can be a huge part of a student’s decision for which university to go to and motivate them to push themselves in their junior and senior year.

The post 4 Ways the Cultural Experience at Camp Can Prepare Students For College appeared first on Best Delegate Model United Nations.

This guest post was provided by Olvia Bloukos (‘20) of Westwood High School in Massachusetts, with special thanks to MUN Advisor Chris Hilton.

In its third year, WestwoodMUNC felt more successful than ever. This year, we expanded from four crisis committees to a total of six due to such great interest, one of which even being a middle school simulation.

Six crisis committees are no small feat: with two crisis directors, six chairs, and six co-chairs, however, we made it possible. We started preparing for this conference around November, where our first step was to entertain ideas for committees. This year, we hosted a range of topics bred by the interests of the chairs: we held a simulation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) in 1980, a future UNFCC set in 2030, a simulation of the 2008 financial crisis, two Security Council committees regarding the Yemeni Civil War (one of which was tailored to middle schoolers,) and a simulation of the 2020 Democratic National Convention.

14 high school students trying to balance schoolwork with writing their background guides can be an overwhelming disaster if inadequately executed, yet the WestwoodMUNC secretariat pulled together six background guides without fail. Not only did chairs have to research their topics tirelessly, but something that proved to be a challenge was keeping up with current events pertaining to our committees, particularly in the DNC and Yemeni Civil War committees. With new politicians declaring candidacy in the burgeoning field, and no shortage of articles regarding policy pertaining to the war, both seemingly daily, it was definitely a challenge to keep background guides as current as possible up to the moment they were released to delegates.

As the chair of the DNC committee, I found myself particularly excited for the unique agenda of the day: rather than spending all the time in committee in moderated and unmoderated caucuses, the committee was designed to have primary elections before the lunch period, with delegates from other committees voting to narrow down the democratic candidates. Delegates represented 4 candidates who had announced their campaigns quite early, as well their campaign team members, and a wide selection of PACs and celebrity endorsers.

Perhaps the highlight of the DNC committee was the primary voting. During the lunch period for all delegates throughout the conference, DNC delegates roamed the cafeteria pining for the support of WestwoodMUNC attendees, both staff and students. The exit of the lunch area held polls where presidential candidates and their campaign teams stood, and although the secretariat expected fewer people to be inclined to vote, people were more than willing to contribute to the flow of the DNC committee.

During actual committee sessions themselves, debate was plentiful. While candidates debated actual policy issues, there was a larger focus on the democratic party as a whole and the way in which their platform would be used as a means of pushing President Trump out of office, rather than fighting amongst themselves. With frequent crises, such as Beto O’Rourke joining Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s campaign team and even some visits from President Trump himself, played by a WestwoodMUNC crisis actor, delegates seemed thoroughly amused with the flow of the committee.

By the end of the final session of committee, the DNC had voted within to nominate Sen. Elizabeth Warren as their frontrunning Presidential candidate, closing a day of amusing, fast-paced debate.

In reflection, perhaps the most important part of being the chair of the DNC committee at WestwoodMUNC was that it brought me to an interest in politics personally, which, as an American citizen and the young voice of the nation in the 2020 election, is essential to understand.

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Middle school Model United Nations conferences and clubs have been growing worldwide in the past decade. Middle school students are showing an increasing curiosity about the world and interest in solving global issues. From our experience teaching them at the Model United Nations Institute, we also noted that they’re more fearless when it comes to public speaking and participating in debates!

Best Delegate reached out to a wide range of middle school Model United Nations conferences to hear what they think is noteworthy about the middle school Model UN schools and students in their community and to share examples of model middle school MUN programs below!

Montessori MUN: Best at Montessori Model UN (MMUN) means that through the collaborative experience at MMUN Conferences, delegates become better listeners, enhance their abilities to understand and respect the needs and interests of others and experience how to create solutions based on consensus. The award at MMUN is to become citizens of the world empowered with their voice and desire to make a difference in the world. Through the Youth Impact Forum, students move from simulation to implementation. All of these MMUN School have participated in the YIF program which provided the tools and resources, including access to mentors and funding to enable them to move beyond basic volunteer and service projects to real sustainable projects linking students with the UN SDGs and a network of youth leaders. Thus, these schools have embraced the developmental path from awareness and understanding of global problems to a sense of responsibility that leads to action.

MMUN recognizes these schools for their commitment to world citizenship, collaboration and their support to engage youth on the UN Sustainable Development Goals. They noted four middle schools that exemplified this in particular: School of the Woods (Texas), Montessori Palau (Spain), Mission Montessori (Arizona), and Kanata (Canada).

William & Mary Middle School MUN (WMIDMUN): WMIDMUN is one of the largest middle school conferences on the East Coast, and the only one (outside of NYC) that gives delegates a full weekend conference experience. Additionally, WMIDMUN also offers an entirely educational experience. With no awards given or even considered we are dedicated to the growth of our middle school delegates. Our focus is to teach them the basics of MUN, work on parliamentary procedure and their writing skills, and encourage critical thought about the world around them. While this is a bit unusual for a conference we find that it takes off the pressure for our many first time delegates and opens the door to fruitful debate. With two of our current secretariat members having been delegates at our conference when they were in middle school we are proud of our history of fostering growth through the opportunities provided at WMIDMUN.

Foundations for Leadership (FFL): Foundations for Leadership runs a middle school conference in Miami-Dade County and a middle school conference in St. Petersburg, Florida. They noted that middle schools come to their conference every year well prepared, win awards, and hold students to a high standard. Two schools in particular stood out: Miami Lakes Middle School and Archimedean Middle Conservatory.

Lifelink Friendship Schools: Lifelink Friendship Schools, a Model UN organization in Ghana, wanted to recognize Saps School. Saps School is located at Teshie Nungua, a suburb of Accra in the Greater Accra region of Ghana. Prior to and during the Lifelink Junior High School Model UN Conference 2018, the delegates from Saps School displayed an impeccable interest in everything about the Model UN. They were enthusiastic, resourceful and put in great effort that was clearly visible during the conference, leading them to obtain most of the awards.

Boston University Academy Model UN (BUAMUN): The school that has stood out to BUAMUN the most in their years of conducting the conference has been the Park School from Brookline, MA. This school has consistently shown their ability to negotiate and compromise while also maintaining a sense of diplomacy. Apart from this, their presentation style clearly shows thorough and deep research. A combination of these two factors and others has impressed the conference over the years.

Malaysian Model United Nations (MYMUN): MYMUN is a THIMUN-affiliated conference in Malaysia. They wanted to recognize Taipei American School (TAS) as one of the top schools that attended their conference. MYMUN noted that TAS sent strong chairs and delegates and were an easy and reliable school to work with. Their chair reports were strong and the resolutions the students came with were well prepared and used during debates. Overall they modeled how important it is that a school sends prepared, enthusiastic and engaged participants.

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It is incredibly exciting to see the growth of middle school Model United Nations programs worldwide! As we can see above, different middle school conferences emphasize different qualities that make the community very dynamic, ranging from having an impeccable interest in the world and a sense of responsibility that lead to actions to high standards in preparation and diplomacy.

Best Delegate is proud to have been teaching middle school students at the Model UN Institute, and we know there is so much more we can do to support and recognize the middle school MUN community in the future!

The post Highlighting Middle School Model UN Communities Around the World appeared first on Best Delegate Model United Nations.

As the 2018 – 2019 Model UN Season comes to a close, high school senior Khai Nguyen reflects on his MUN career as he transitions to the collegiate circuit.

Why am I here? Why do I do Model UN? These are the questions that every delegate will encounter at least once in their Model UN career. Whether it be at 2:00 AM, the night before a conference when you’re still writing your Position Paper, or when you’re dealing with the stress and politics that come with the extracurricular activity you’ve grown to love.

Let’s be real, we all started the same way. For half of us, Model UN was just something we did for the college application, or we did it because our parents wanted us to. For the rest of us, it was another club to socialize with friends, or an excuse to get out on the weekends, not to mention the overnight trips without your parents at a collegiate conference.

But something changed along the way. Something that brought us from that mindset, to now reading an article on Best Delegate. For each of us that something is different, but for all of us, that something is the answer. The answer to why you are here. The answer to why you do Model UN. This is my answer.

I started Model UN in 8^th Grade, solely for the college applications, just as many others were doing. Don’t get me wrong, before then, I had my successes. I was a strong swimmer, always placed on the A medley relay team. I was a strong speaker, constantly participating in speech competitions in the county and placing well. I was a strong martial artist, who had a black belt in Taekwondo and was on the U.S. Junior Wushu Team. But all of this was hidden, hidden in the shadows of my older brother who had accomplished the same, if not more, in the same fields. Growing up, I often wondered, who am I? What have I achieved? Did I deserve my titles? Or are they simply passed to me because of my brother? I lived in the shadow. Afraid to step into the light. Afraid to find out that I was right, that I was nothing without my brother.

Joining Model UN was my first step out of the shadow. My first step into an unknown field without my brother. I remember my first conference where I was a “back-row” delegate, not because I was too afraid to speak, but because I was confused by the concept of Parliamentary Procedure. I remember the awards ceremony at that conference, where the Chair went through the awards, listing what seemed like every country but my own. And I remember that endless cycle of participating at conferences, waiting during award ceremonies, never once hearing my position called. As the end of the year fast approached, and the Model UN season coming to a close, I had reached a point in which I thought it was all true, I was nothing, nothing more than a reflection.

High School Model UN was different for me, the summer had filled me with the determination to succeed. This clean slate was an opportunity to do things differently, and so I began the grind. I began to research harder, raised my placard more, and even read every “How To” article on Best Delegate. I participated in mocks, and at my first high school level conference I was recognized as an Outstanding Delegation, higher than our school’s Under-Secretary-General who was in my committee. The next few years flew past into the present where I have risen to near the top of the Model UN program in my school, and have accomplishing things I never thought possible merely a few years ago, things I never thought possible without my brother. I forged my own path in my Model UN career. I worked and had my failures, but eventually I found myself. This was the answer. The answer to why I am here. The answer to why I do Model UN. To prove, not just to others, but to myself, that I was more than just a reflection.

I realize now, more than ever, it doesn’t matter how or why you started. I myself am guilty of this, I did do it for the college application, but what matters the most is why I stayed. I’ve come to realize, looking back now, how Model UN has shaped me into the individual that I am today. It has given me the closest of friends, both inside and outside of my school. It has improved my ability to research, write, and speak on a multitude of different subjects. It has even changed the way I walk and present myself, and I can genuinely say that I am happy with the way I have been changed.

To the delegates reading this article, I leave you with this. Yes, Model UN can be tough sometimes. It can take hours to research enough to be prepared for a committee. It can keep you up late at night, and strip you of your energy in the morning, even days after a conference. It can be filled with “gavel hunters” who will do whatever it takes, as they are driven by the concept of awards. And anybody, who has ever been in a committee, can attest to the statement that bias and favoritism from the Dias does occur, and it can cost you the award you know you deserved.

But you’re here reading this article for a reason. Something about Model UN has captivated you, just as it has captivated me. We all wish that something about Model UN will change, to remove this toxicity that haunts us all. However, deep down you know, Model UN will never change, at least not in the way you want it to. But it doesn’t matter if Model UN will never change, what matters is how we let Model UN change us. Nothing will ever compare to what we have right here, right now. The circuit is my family, and if you give them the chance, they can be yours too.

I encourage you to take the time to question why you are here, and why do you do Model UN. It is only after realizing your answer to these questions will you be able to emerge as the Best Delegate that you were meant to be.

The post A Journey to Finding Self-Identity Through Model United Nations appeared first on Best Delegate Model United Nations.

St. Vincent – St. Mary High School (STVM) is an independent Catholic school in Akron, Ohio. Since 2014, over 40 students from STVM have attended the MUN Institute across the United States at various levels – from beginner to advanced curriculum. According to student leader Fiona Gaffney, “Those who have attended the MUN Institute learned how to more quickly and effectively form speeches as well as how to organize a Model UN conference.”

The post Model UN Team Spotlight: St. Vincent – St. Mary High School appeared first on Best Delegate Model United Nations.

At Best Delegate, our mission is “Model United Nations for All.” We want to make MUN accessible to students and teachers around the world by offering professional development and training opportunities featuring our expert MUN tools, tactics, and strategies.

In order to support MUN educators, we’re proud to announce the following professional development opportunities and resources for educators across the United States:

• Open Houses for Advisors to observe MUN simulations this summer,
• One-day professional development Workshops in the fall to help teachers prepare their students for Model UN conferences,
• The Advisor, a curated email newsletter for educators to learn about Model UN events and opportunities in their area

Check out the list below to see what opportunities are happening in a city near you! Don’t see your city featured? Reach out to us and let us know where we should host MUN professional development events next.

Model United Nations Simulation Open Houses

Want to see a Model United Nations Simulation in action? Join us to observe a final simulation at the Model United Nations Institute, Best Delegate’s flagship MUN summer camp program.

Most MUN Advisors did not do MUN as a student and might not be exactly sure what happens during a Model United Nations Simulation. Now is your chance to observe a Model UN Simulation at the MUN Institute! We’re excited to invite MUN educators (free of charge) to observe the final simulation at the Model United Nations Institute.

July 12, 2019: New York City Open House

July 12, 2019: Washington, D.C. Open House

July 26, 2019: Berkeley, CA Open House

July 26, 2019: Cambridge, MA Open House

August 2, 2019: Los Angeles, CA Open House

One-Day Professional Development Workshops for MUN Advisors

Whether you’re an experienced MUN Advisor or brand new to Model UN, you’ll walk away from this workshop with time-saving tools, tactics, and strategies to help your students succeed in Model United Nations. We’ve developed a suite of time-saving tools, tactics, and strategies to help Advisors overcome these challenges and succeed in Model United Nations. We’ve seen Advisors use these tools to create growing, sustainable, and impactful MUN programs at their schools.

To support our mission of “MUN for All,” we’re excited to partner with schools and MUN Advisors across the country to offer MUN Professional Development Workshops for Advisors. We’re excited to offer this low-cost option to MUN educators who are looking to jumpstart their MUN program!

September 7, 2019: The Democracy Center (Cambridge, MA)

September 28, 2019: Santa Margarita Catholic High School (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA)

September 29, 2019: D.C. International School (Washington, DC)

October 5, 2019: The Democracy Center (Cambridge, MA)

Want to stay updated on the latest MUN opportunities for educators? Sign up for our email newsletter, The Advisor!

The post Upcoming Professional Development Opportunities for Model UN Educators appeared first on Best Delegate Model United Nations.

The WFUNA International Model United Nations Conference (WIMUN 2020) for High School will be held from January 31 to February 3, 2020 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York City. 

The Secretariat is responsible for organizing all logistical, substantive, and communicative aspects of the conference, with the leadership of the Senior Secretariat team. 

Applications for Secretariat are due by Friday, July 5, 2019 23:59 EST. 

Requirements & Eligibility

• Must be currently enrolled or have recently graduated from university. Current university students are preferred.
• Prior experience with WIMUN is highly preferred. Prior experience with other Model UN conferences or workshops using WIMUN Approach rules of procedure is also preferred.
• Prior experience staffing Model UN conferences is preferred. 
• Must be committed to producing all pre-conference and on-site deliverables in a timely manner. 
• Ideal candidates should display professionalism in their work, be very responsive to email throughout the entire conference preparation process, be open to constructive feedback, and have strong communication skills and problem-solving skills.
• Must arrive in New York City on January 29, 2020, and depart on February 4, 2019. Must be available to work from January 30-Feb 3 for training sessions and the conference itself. 

Benefits

• Opportunity to work with WFUNA, Best Delegate, and an international Secretariat on a high-profile event held in the heart of New York
• Certificate from the WFUNA Secretary-General
• Six nights of shared accommodations at the Grand Hyatt Hotel from January 29- February 4, 2020.
• $300 travel stipend for Secretaries/Directors and $200 travel stipend for Global Communications/Management Officers. Stipend is awarded after completion of the conference. Secretariat members must book their travels at their own expense upfront, then will be awarded the travel stipend at the end of the conference.

Applications

• Please apply here by Friday, July 5th 23:59 EST. Please review the position descriptions below carefully before applying. Highly qualified candidates will be selected for an interview. Questions about the positions can be directed to the organizing committee: wimun@wfuna.org.

Positions Available

Secretary or Director

The Secretary for General Assembly committees, the Secretary for ECOSOC, and the Director of the Security Council serve as the substantive and procedural expert in the room and provides support to the elected Chair of a General Assembly committee or the President of the Security Council and ECOSOC to help them run committee, council, sessions. Secretaries and Directors will also write the Report of the Secretary-General for their respective committee or council’s topic and assist with delegate training prior to the conference. Strong chairing experience, fluency in spoken and written English, and advanced research skills are required for this position. Past experience with the WIMUN Approach is highly preferred. Specific responsibilities include:

• Writing the Report of the Secretary-General (background guides) for their committee’s topic following WIMUN Approach research and formatting standards
• Training the elected committee Chair or selected council President on WIMUN rules of procedure, preparing chairing scripts, and providing procedural guidance during committee sessions
• Assisting with the pre-conference training of delegates and other substantive needs and ensuring the overall quality of the committee experience for participants
• Keeping track of the speakers list, draft resolutions, annotations of amendments during Formal Informal Meetings, and any recorded votes during committee sessions

Conference Management Officer

Conference Management Officers work behind the scenes to ensure that all logistics flow smoothly during the conference. Previous conference staffing experience or experience in other logistical or customer service roles is preferred for this position. Specific responsibilities include:

• Understanding the logistics plan and serving as the “go-to” person for any questions or issues about logistics at the UN General Assembly Hall (including entrance and exit procedures), the Grand Hyatt Hotel, and delegate social venues.
• Managing the process of typing, printing, and distributing draft resolutions as well as any extra delegate materials that may need to be printed or prepared.
• Transporting, setting up, and breaking down A/V equipment such as microphones, laptops, projectors, projector screens, printers, and copiers.
• Ensuring general customer service and safety for all participants including assisting with check-in, the customer service table, and with any medical emergencies.

Global Communications Officer
Global Communications Officers work behind the scenes to produce multimedia leading up to and during the conference. They also participate as part of the press simulation for the Security Council committees. This year’s team will be designated with the following roles: Writers, Filmographers (Editing and Cinematography), Photographer, and Email Manager(Registration), Technical experience with photography, videography, video editing, layout editing, social media marketing, or other media-related skills is required for this position. Staff will be expected to provide examples for past relative work. Specific roles and responsibilities include:

Writers

• Preparing content updates to the website, 
• Preparing content for Social media posts, and 
• Preparing content for any WFUNA marketing campaigns to recruit delegates.
• Managing WIMUN 2020 HS Social Media accounts
• Serving as the Press team for press simulations in the Security Council committees.

Email Manager

• Assisting the Under-Secretary-General for the Department of Global Communications and the Assistant-Secretary-General for the Department of Global Communications with any pre-conference email communications with participants.
• Assist USG for DGC with registering students in the conference on-site.

Photographer

• Taking professional-quality photos during the conference.
• Watermarking all photos taken at the conference with the WIMUN logo.
• Creating designs that require graphic design expertise before the conference to assist social media marketing.

Filmography (Editing)

• Editing videos to produce a Closing Ceremonies video, social media promotional videos, and any other needed media.

Filmography (Cinematography)

• Taking professional-quality videos during the conference.

Apply here and find out more about the Secretariat Positions and the WIMUN 2020 High School Conference today.

The post WIMUN 2020 High School is hiring! Applications Close July 5th appeared first on Best Delegate Model United Nations.

The Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO), a global peer-to-peer network of 13,000+ entrepreneurs in 58+ countries, hosted the first-ever International Entrepreneurial Summit at the United Nations from June 25-26, 2019. Ryan Villanueva and Kevin Felix Chan, the co-founders of Best Delegate and the MUN Institute, attended the Summit. Ryan is the President of EO Boston and Kevin is the Accelerator Chair of EO Los Angeles.

The post Empowering Entrepreneurs to Impact the UN Sustainable Development Goals: Best Delegate Attends the 2019 EO International Entrepreneurial Summit appeared first on Best Delegate Model United Nations.

It’s been a whirlwind summer here at the MUN Institute! So far, we’ve run dozens of learning tracks with 500+ students, with even more to come in the next few weeks. This summer, we’ve had some of our most international classrooms in the history of our camps! With students from Mexico, the United Arab Emirates, France, China, Switzerland, Colombia, Mongolia, Singapore, the United Kingdom, Belgium, India, the Netherlands, South Korea, and beyond, these programs have been truly global.

This article is the first in a series about what’s been going on at the MUN Institute this summer. Today, we’re focusing on our Crisis programs! In Crisis Model UN, delegates represent a person within a department or organization and respond to real-time developments.

The post Snapshot from the Model United Nations Institute: Crisis Programs appeared first on Best Delegate Model United Nations.

Summer is almost over at the MUN Institute, but we’re having a great time looking back at all of the amazing experiences that have made this summer so special. One of the best traditions at the MUN Institute is the annual tour of the United Nations Headquarters in New York City.

Each year, students who are enrolled in our programs located at Columbia University get to visit the United Nations Headquarters, tour the main area of the building, and see exclusive, behind-the-scenes locations in the iconic skyscraper.

The post Snapshot from the MUN Institute: Touring the United Nations appeared first on Best Delegate Model United Nations.

It’s been a wonderful summer here at the MUN Institute! As we close out the last week of programs, we are reflecting on all of the inspiring students that have learned about Model United Nations during the past couple of months.

Our goal at the MUN Institute is to provide students with a world-class educational experience. Delegates step into the shoes of world leaders and discuss real global issues that are affecting people every day. They come up with solutions to these issues by negotiating with each other while representing different countries. This experience is transformative for many students – it helps them to be more confident in public speaking, and more confident in everyday life.

The post Snapshot from the MUN Institute: Students’ Voices appeared first on Best Delegate Model United Nations.