3 Tips to Improve Your Body Language When Giving a Model United Nations Speech

GIVING A SPEECH DURING A MODEL UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE CAN BE TOUGH, BUT PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT!

Body language is a key skill to help you look and feel more confident while making a speech – it helps you and your audience focus on the main points of your speech, rather than any distracting movements. Here are the three ways you can improve your body language:

  • Eyes: are you making eye contact with your audience? This helps the room feel more connected to you and your speech. Having trouble making eye contact? Look at your audience’s foreheads (yes, really!), or look just above their heads at the back of the room.
  • Hands: are your hand gestures adding to or detracting from your speech? If your hands are usually all over the place, keep them to your sides or clasp them in front of you. Don’t be afraid of using your hands to subtly add emphasis to your ideas.
  • Feet: are you distracting your audience with your movements? Try to keep your feet in one spot while speaking, and don’t shift your weight around. Keep your feet hip-width apart and stand tall to project confidence!

2022-2023 College Model U.N. Delegate’s Choice for Best Teams and Conferences

BU
BU

Best Delegate is recognizing the diplomatic spirit of the college Model UN community by including a Delegate’s Choice category for Best College Model UN Teams and Best College Model UN Conferences. 

Any college student who participated in a college Model UN conference in the “World Division” (college student-led, crisis-friendly conferences) was allowed to vote for one team and one conference that is NOT from their own during the College MUN All-Star voting process. College students could define “Best” in the way they see fit. 

Participants could only vote once per category. That means any team or conference that made it to the list at all was already considered to be THE best team or THE best conference in the minds of many participants from other teams and conferences on the circuit. 

It is our privilege to announce the inaugural list of the Best College Model UN Teams and Conferences for the 2022-2023 school year. Congratulations!  

Delegate’s Choice for Best College Model UN Teams

Best College MUN Teams (five-way tie for most votes; listed in alphabetical order)

Boston University

University of California, Berkeley

University of Chicago

University of Florida

University of Georgia

OUTSTANDING TEAMS (ALPHABETICAL)

American University

Claremont McKenna College

Florida State University

University of California, Los Angeles

University of Southern California

HONORABLE MENTIONS (ALPHABETICAL) 

Concordia University

Florida International University

McGill University

University of California, Davis

Virginia Tech

COMMENDATIONS (ALPHABETICAL) 

Clark University

Georgetown University

Harvard University

The George Washington University

United States Military Academy at West Point

 

 

Delegate’s Choice for Best College Model UN Conferences

 

BEST CONFERENCE

University of Chicago Model United Nations (ChoMUN)

 

OUTSTANDING CONFERENCES (ALPHABETICAL) 

Los Angeles Model United Nations (LAMUN)

McGill Model United Nations Assembly (McMUN)

National Collegiate Security Conference (NCSC)

Trojan Model United Nations (TrojanMUN) 

 

HONORABLE MENTIONS (ALPHABETICAL) 

& Model United Nations (&MUN) 

Boston Area Model United Nations (BarMUN)

Harvard National Model United Nations (HNMUN)

University of California, Berkeley Model United Nations (UCBMUN)

Virginia International Crisis Simulation (VICS)

 

COMMENDATIONS (ALPHABETICAL) 

Model United Nations at Emory (MUNE)

Nole Model United Nations Conference (NoleMUN)

University of North Carolina Model United Nations Conference (UNCMUNC)

University of Pennsylvania Model United Nations Conference (UPMUNC)

 

2022-2023 North American College Model U.N. Best Chairs and Crisis Directors

2021-2022 North American College Model U.N. Best Chairs and Crisis Directors

All names are in alphabetical order by first name.

Best Chairs and Crisis Directors

 

Atharva Kulkarni AK

University of California, Los Angeles

From competing (and gaveling) in multiple Ad Hocs this year to running back to back never before seen Ad Hocs at LAMUN, Atharva Kulkarni’s appearance on this list for the second year in a row is no surprise. Analyzing the fundamentals of MUN, he experiments with non-traditional rules of procedure to challenge the most experienced Ad Hoc delegates. After spearheading LAMUN XVII’s infamous time-loop animal simulation, which was praised across the circuit, Atharva aimed to raise the bar for LAMUN XVIII. This spring, Ad Hoc delegates became high school secretariat members of a conference that mirrored LAMUN. In real time, they interacted with other committees and staff to solve a complex murder mystery in a heartfelt homage to many of the delegate’s and senior staff’s last conference. While the worlds he creates draw the most attention, Atharva would defer more credit to the staff he’s trained in the past two years. He trains his staff to function independently with delegate arcs, allowing him to focus on the bigger picture. As the collegiate circuit bids farewell to one of its most innovative minds, Atharva will remain part of the UCLA community (but is retired from MUN) to work toward his PhD in Physics.

 

Bella Newell

BN

Boston University

Over her four years as a part of the Boston University Model UN Team, Bella Newell left an incredible legacy both on the collegiate Model UN circuit, and in the hearts of the MUN@BU Team. She recently graduated from Boston University with a degree in International Relations, and served as the Head Delegate of the MUN@BU Team for the 2021-2022 Year, and more recently as the President of MUN@BU’s parent organization, BUIAA, for the 2022-2023 Year. As both Head Delegate and President, she pushed for progress and innovation for BUIAA, revitalizing the organization in its post-pandemic years. MUN brought Bella many places, from San Francisco, to China, to Boston Logan Airport (at 3am). It is hard to overstate her competitive success, with Bella earning an award at every one of the 24 conferences she attended, with 15 Best Delegate awards to boot (the most in MUN@BU history!). While her gavel cup may be impressive, and her impeccable conference weekend fashion note-worthy (blazer dresses and headbands abound), what is most memorable about Bella’s MUN career is the kindness, passion, and hard work she brought to every committee room, prep session, delegate social, and mock simulation. This spirit of seeing Model UN not only as a competitive activity but a chance for learning and connection made everyone around her better for it. Every conference weekend TikTok, pre-committee coffee run, and themed MUN@BU social will be remembered fondly. The BU MUN community will miss her dearly, but can’t wait to what amazing things she will do (as soon as she overcomes her addiction to Candy Crush)!

 

Carol Zhou CZ

University of Southern California

Anyone who has ever met Carol will tell you how she lights up every room she walks into. A member of the Fall 2021 MUNSC new member class, Carol is a successful competitor, a fantastic chair, and a lovely and priceless friend. She is currently in her first year of law school at the University of Southern California, meaning she is (sadly) no longer a member of our travel team, but, despite her busy 1L schedule, she still finds time to lend her expertise to our budding delegates. During her time in undergrad, Carol served as Director of Internal Relations and Director of Team Training for MUNSC. In addition to her fierce commitment to our team, she acted as a Research Associate in the Leonard D. Schaeffer Center for Health Policy & Economics, a Senior Advisor for the USC Association of Innovative Marketing Consulting Club, and completed her B.S. in Public Policy while maintaining a stellar GPA and a Presidential scholarship. Any delegate who has had Carol as a chair is lucky, but any person who has been able to compete on a team with her, or have her as a friend,  is a better delegate– and person– because of it. We are so excited that Carol can wield the title of “All-Star”, but any member of MUNSC knows that the phrase does not even begin to describe how amazing she is.

 

Sam Evatt SE

Florida State University

Sam Evatt is a junior studying International Affairs with certificates in Emergency Management & Homeland Security and U.S. Intelligence Studies at Florida State University. Known on the team for his uniquely hilarious crisis ideas and a devotion to obscure history, Sam served as the Crisis Director, or Baby Tsar, of NoleMUN II’s “Time of Troubles: A Twilight of a Tsardom” committee. With a passion for chaos, Sam’s “Ashes of an Empire: The Frankokratia” historical crisis at NoleMUN III promises to deliver yet another spectacular delegate experience. Additionally, Sam currently serves as the FSU World Affairs Program’s Assistant Director of Programming, spreading his creative MUN strategies with confidence and compassion. The team is so proud of you, Sam! Go Noles!

 

Sharicka ZutshiSZ

University of California, Berkeley

Sharicka Zutshi has been the steady rock of UCBMUN. No matter the pickle you find yourself in, UCBMUN’s honorary “MUNMom” has you covered and can solve your problems with professionalism and compassion. She is a beast in committee, and knows General Assembly, Crisis, and Specialized Bodies backwards and forwards, serving UCBMUN as Generalized Head Delegate. Her ability to propel committee is also seen in her success as a Crisis Director. As CD of UCBMUN’s legendary Crisis Ad-Hoc, she led her committee on figurative and real scavenger hunts, weaves together arcs like no other, and infused each session with her infectious energy. Sharicka graduated from UC Berkeley this past spring with a degree in Biomedical Engineering and is currently pursuing a PhD at Columbia University. She is part of the inaugural cohort of Quad Fellows, representing India in this prestigious scholarship programs for the brightest minds in STEM. Congratulations, Sharicka—take on New York but never forget you’re best in the west!

 

Simon Guevara-PonceSp

Concordia University

Simon is a dedicated Chair known for his unique and creative ideas for Ad Hoc committees. With multiple years of experience, Simon has served as Creative and Alumni Director of the Concordia Global Affairs Association and as a head delegate for Concordia External Delegation. Without his knack for out-of-the-box crisis arcs, his energy on the team and his mentorship, our team would not be where it is today. Needless to say, Simon has been our all-star for years! Old is good, but our Simon is platinum (blonde?)

 

Tarun Sreedhar TS

 

University of California, Berkeley

Tarun Sreedhar is a prized member of UCBMUN that the team already dearly misses. This past May, Tarun graduated with degrees in Computer Science & Data Science and, unsurprisingly, served as the conference’s Director of Technology aka the resident tech boy (shoutout to the app that finally made it to the app store). Tarun’s involvement throughout his four years led him to become a confidante, a mentor, and a brother to many in our club. While we already feel the hole his absence has left, we couldn’t be prouder to celebrate “Tweakin’ Tarun” for being one hell of a Chair. The Breaking Bad committee was not only lucky but beyond grateful to have him, as evidenced by the glowing feedback and high praise that Tarun and his dais got at every Head Delegate feedback (and we all know how brutal those can be). As we await his eventual visit back home to the Bay, in the words of Skinny Pete, we want him to know: “Dude, you’re my hero.”

 

Vedant Vamshidhar VV

University of Southern California

If there was ever a committee that lived up to and exceeded the hype of its real life counterpart, it was Death Row Records at TrojanMUN 2022 and it couldn’t have been made possible without Vedant and his incredible job as Crisis Director. From carrying out incredible crisis updates to having his delegates make a literal diss track as a resolution, Vedant made sure that there wasn’t a dull moment in the studio and made death row records one of the best committees we have seen in recent years.

Outstanding Chairs and Crisis Directors

 

Amritha RamalingamAR

Georgetown University

If you’ve had the pleasure of getting to know Amritha Ramalingam in the past four years, you’re one of the luckiest people- both on and off the Model UN circuit. Amritha is not only an incredible Chair with an uncanny ability to bond with her delegates in the matter of a few days, but she’s also a formidable GA delegate and an unshakeable leader at Georgetown. As the Chair of NCSC 50’s pathbreaking Ad-Hoc Committee of the Secretary-General- one of the first to feature an all-woman matrix- Amritha was nothing short of spectacular. However, Amritha’s lasting contributions to the Model UN circuit, to me, will forever be her steadfast leadership of the 49th National Collegiate Security Conference and her pivotal role in bringing back in-person NCSC after the pandemic. She also served as the last CEO of the Georgetown International Relations Association, where she led our organization to a year of significant financial and program success. Above everything she has done for the circuit, everyone on the GUMUN team will forever remember Amritha for her never-ending support, kindness, and friendship. We wish Amritha the best of luck as a 1L at Georgetown University Law Center this year!

Emilie ParryEP

Florida State University

Emilie is a rising senior at Florida State studying International Affairs and Theatre, contributing to the fun and fresh perspective on Model UN that she enters committee rooms with (if you’ve ever been in committee with Emilie, you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about – she’s a force to be reckoned with). Forever willing to spice up a conference social or a team meeting, Emilie truly was the heart and soul of FSU MUN – she served both as the Vice Director and as one of the Head Delegates for FSU’s team this year, proving herself to be a strong and brilliant leader, constantly gushing about how proud she was of FSU’s delegates. During conference breaks, you could always find her helping others on the team, working through the weekends to eventually earn the most points on FSU’s team (tied with Kelly Zhang, GA Genius and best friend) including three gavels at AIRMUNC, VICS, and ChoMUN. She also CD’d her first committee at NoleMUN II, Eat or be Eaten (which she often called her ‘baby’) and put everything she could into running the room. Model UN has been the highlight of her college career and she has found so much joy in the last three years, with MUN conference weekends being some of her favorite memories. Although we’re heartbroken to see her leave the circuit, we cannot wait to see the heights to which life takes her! We love you Emilie!!! Go Noles!

Georgia Steigerwald GS

Harvard University

Georgia Steigerwald, in just about every possible way, has been the heart and soul of Harvard ICMUN for as long as we can remember. Both the team “daddy” and the self-proclaimed “momager,” it would be hard to find somebody at Harvard—if not the entire Model UN circuit—who has not had some wonderful-but-absolutly-crazy interaction with Georgia. Bringing, without fail, some of the wackiest crisis arcs to the UNSC circuit, Harvard ICMUN could not think of somebody more deserving of this award. Georgia, on more than one occasion, has taken on the near-impossible task of crisis directing two committees at once, so Georgia was well equipped to take on the UNSC at HNMUN. No matter the situation thrown at her—which, in her seemingly endless time at Harvard ICMUN, it seems as if every possible situation has—Georgia composes herself with charm, chaos, and a positively-infectious smile on her face. Harvard ICMUN Is lucky to have a supporter as remarkable as Georgia, and the Model UN world could never have been ready for what Georgia would bring to the table. Harvard ICMUN will never be the same without Georgia, and we are so fortunate that we are able to spend one more semester with her. Enjoy your last few conferences, daddy—get ready to bring home some gavels!

Helen Yang

University of California, Berkeley

2022-2023 North American College Model U.N. All-Star Team

2022North American College All-Stars

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 seven 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. Each nominated name received one vote. Ballots were manually edited for spelling inconsistencies and manually checked for validity. Delegates receiving the top number of votes were given All-Star team honors divided into three tiers that reflect the percentage of votes received.

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! This year’s biographers represented some of the top delegates on the circuit that were friends, teammates, and competitors of All-Star Team members.

***

All names are in alphabetical order by first name within each tier.

COLLEGE MODEL UN ALL-STAR TEAM (FIRST TEAM)

 

Alexi Dubois

Concordia University

Alexi Dubois has been leading CED to victory since his time as President of CED, where Alexi led CED to our highest ever ranking and helped us become the #1 team in Canada! Now Chair of the Concordia Global Affairs Association and a Best Delegate All-Star for the second year in a row, Alexi continues to develop and strengthen our team with his impeccable ability to work one on one with each of our dels while leading by example. Known for his love of turtlenecks and his infamous crutches at CIAC, our maroon sea over at CED wouldn’t be the same without our beloved “Conference Karen.” Thank you for all you’ve done for the team, we couldn’t be prouder!

 

Antonio Martin

University of California, Berkeley

If you ever had fun at any MUN committee session last year or enjoyed a particularly interesting, niche conversation, not only did you for sure talk to a UCBMUN member, but you probably talked to our Antonio Martin. Antonio is a senior studying Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at Cal, and as many wonder how he got into MUN, he will always answer “I like the people and the travelling.” You would not expect someone that introduced Obama at a conference as a child, graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School, worked for Google, and is currently a Solutions Engineering Intern (whatever that means) for Ampere to be such a good public speaker and social person. But Antonio has certainly broken every conventional style of debate using a unique blend of charisma, creativity, and wit. At the end, if you were in his committee, you will always end up with the most chaotic backroom and an exhaustive list of to-go places in Seattle, Washington DC, or New York. If you are interested in cooking, Antonio will tell you all about his pasta making adventures. If you are interested in travelling, he will brag about the one million places he has been to. If you are from the East Coast, he will mention his high school alma mater at least 10 times. If you want to just have an open conversation, he will brag about the most random skill he learned lately. At any time, Antonio is always the funny and inspirational party of any conversation, whether it be in MUN or not. At UCBMUN, Antonio represents the legend of the Non-POLSCI Master Debater, a figure that is so successful at its own major and career yet one that finds time to award at every conference it goes to. Despite the rumors about him being sponsored by United Airlines and Hertz, Antonio’s passion about everything he does is genuine, and that can be seen through his success and the positive impact he leaves on UCBMUN and the entire MUN circuit. UCBMUN will certainly not be the same without Antonio, but his legend and his reputation will certainly outlast his years as a valuable member of our club.

 

Bella Newell

Boston University

Over her four years as a part of the Boston University Model UN Team, Bella Newell left an incredible legacy both on the collegiate Model UN circuit, and in the hearts of the MUN@BU Team. She recently graduated from Boston University with a degree in International Relations, and served as the Head Delegate of the MUN@BU Team for the 2021-2022 Year, and more recently as the President of MUN@BU’s parent organization, BUIAA, for the 2022-2023 Year. As both Head Delegate and President, she pushed for progress and innovation for BUIAA, revitalizing the organization in its post-pandemic years. MUN brought Bella many places, from San Francisco, to China, to Boston Logan Airport (at 3am). It is hard to overstate her competitive success, with Bella earning an award at every one of the 24 conferences she attended, with 15 Best Delegate awards to boot (the most in MUN@BU history!). While her gavel cup may be impressive, and her impeccable conference weekend fashion note-worthy (blazer dresses and headbands abound), what is most memorable about Bella’s MUN career is the kindness, passion, and hard work she brought to every committee room, prep session, delegate social, and mock simulation. This spirit of seeing Model UN not only as a competitive activity but a chance for learning and connection made everyone around her better for it. Every conference weekend TikTok, pre-committee coffee run, and themed MUN@BU social will be remembered fondly. The BU MUN community will miss her dearly, but can’t wait to what amazing things she will do (as soon as she overcomes her addiction to Candy Crush)!

 

Dylan Nokleby

University of California, Berkeley

Dylan Nokleby is a presence in every room that he walks into. The circuit quickly learned this as he won his first gavel at his second-ever conference. The team quickly learned this as no matter how far you are from him in Moffitt Library his loud voice instantly tells you he is indeed present (and voting). While only a freshman, Dylan lived and breathed MUN — a commitment that did not go unacknowledged by anyone on the team — ending the year with a set of four awards from the five conferences he attended. His nomination to All-Stars is a testament to the mark he, armed with his ever-chatty, will-always-dap-you-up persona, has made both on our team and on the circuit. Dylan, now the youngest ever All-Star in Berkeley’s history, has another three years to continue making and breaking more records and we couldn’t be more excited for him, especially as our favorite Texan and UCBMUN’s resident frat bro takes on the mantle as our next General Assembly Head Delegate.

 

Erin Yeh

University of California, Los Angeles

Erin Yeh is indisputably the queen of General Assemblies. She is incredibly versatile, showing her research prowess in Ad Hocs and her ability to brand clauses in hundred-person committees. The MUN at UCLA team is grateful for two years of GA training under her direction and her comforting presence between committee sessions. Erin is memorable not only for her performance and support at conferences – a member of our team cannot mention Erin without thinking of her comically small car or her jello treats. She has made an indelible mark on the circuit, both within her own team and on other delegates, and her presence will be missed.

 

Jon Joey Telebrico

Claremont McKenna College

Jon Joey Telebrico is beloved across the circuit and, especially, in the family that is CMCMUN. As CMCMUN President, JJ made changes to our team’s operations that made the activity we love more fun, more inclusive, and more successful than ever. JJ is an extremely hardworking person who pours their heart into everything they do and everyone they care about. JJ led CMCMUN all around the country, and even around the world to reprise the title of Best Small Delegation at Harvard WorldMUN in Paris. JJ gaveled the circuit’s first-ever Ad Hoc GA Committee at UCBMUN, and spent the year continuing his legacy of competitive success on the North American circuit. In addition to being a stellar delegate and teammate, JJ was an inspiration and role model to their peers at CMC, making the campus a better place over their four years of college as an advocate for queer students, survivors of sexual assault, and students of color. JJ is already deeply missed by his team but is sure to make waves as an aspiring Philosophy PhD candidate.

 

Kristin Mifsud

University of California, Davis

All hail the Queen! Kristin Mifsud just graduated from the University of California, Davis with a degree in Political Science and minors in History and English. Kristin stepped into the role as Secretary General of UCDMUN for her final year at UC Davis and was a natural. From leading the team’s delegations at conferences across the nation to designing and directing crisis committees and simulations, Kristin always performed at the highest level. Kristin is always a positive face to be around, whether neck deep in an Ad Hoc committee or at Oracle Park watching her beloved San Francisco Giants play. She was and will always be family to the UCDMUN team. Wherever Kristin ends up, there is no doubt she will excel just as she did in MUN. Three cheers for Kristin — the Queen of UCDMUN!

 

Monica Mata

Florida International University

Monica is a junior at Florida International University studying International Business and was a Head Delegate for the FIU Model UN team during the 2022-23 school year. Since her very first class on the team, we knew she would become an all star one day as she has always demonstrated her passion, commitment, and talent for Model UN, despite having no experience prior to the collegiate level. Although you could always find Monica in GA committees, she has showed her endless amount of talent for crisis as well, so she is the best well rounded delegate one can get! Aside from competing in MUN, Monica likes to read, exercise, and she is a die-hard Swiftie. Her genuine, caring, and friendly character is something that will be truly missed as she always spread kindness in and out of committee. We are so proud of how far Monica has come along in her two years on the team and wish her nothing but the best in her future endeavors!

 

Ranay Sah

University of Southern California

If you’re looking to define what Model UN is, look no further than Ranay Sah. Ranay has embraced the activity with unparalleled dedication and an unwavering commitment to improving the MUN space both at USC and on the circuit. His GA persona aligns perfectly with the person he is outside of committee: kind-hearted, welcoming, passionate, and collaborative. He brings a joyful and bright energy to any room he steps into, all the while serving as a fierce and formidable competitor to anyone in the room with him. Not only is Ranay a brilliant delegate with multiple gavels under his belt, but he is one of USC MUN’s brightest leaders. He serves as one of the team’s head delegates and trainers, and is on both TrojanMUN and SCMUN’s Secretariat teams handling operations and substantive planning. Through all of these commitments, Ranay is authentically himself and is a wholeheartedly positive influence on everyone around him. Ranay Sah is a true all-star, in and outside of Model UN.

 

Ryan Villacorta

Florida State University

Ryan Villacorta graduated from Florida State University this spring after serving the World Affairs Program as Assistant Director of Finance, Vice Director, and this past year as Director of the Program. Ryan led the team to an incredible number of delegation awards during his time, all the while training & recruiting a record-breaking new member class. During this iteration of NoleMUN, FSU’s ranked collegiate conference, Ryan served as the Crisis Director for the Ad-Hoc of the Secretary General. Bringing the creativity, kindness, and incredible humor he is known for across the circuit into this committee, Ryan was able to execute not only an incredibly engaging experience for delegates but left a lasting impression on the conference. Ryan’s steadfast dedication to his team is incredible, and for the past four years he has worked tirelessly to ensure that not only is the team prepared for conferences, but that each trip is the best one yet. His enthusiasm & genuine care for his team coupled with his skill as a delegate has made him one of the best examples of the FSU spirit in the team’s history. At each conference he attended, Ryan found the best restaurants and best friends from across the circuit. He left everyone with a smile, a coffee, and an incredible story from one of his many SGA shenanigans. Bringing the blue suit & black turtleneck energy to every closing ceremony, head del social, and committee session in between, Ryan has left a lasting impact on the circuit. At home in Tallahassee, Ryan has been the number one supporter of every single member of the FSU team. He is always the first one to cheer when they succeed (first to comfort when they may not), and proved time and time again that the same Garfield hoodie can in fact serve as the perfect pillow in an airport. His love of MUN is clear in his care for his fellow delegates on the circuit, and the love of his team is clear in all that he does. He will be greatly missed on the FSU team, but will absolutely bring his success with him post-grad. Congratulations Ryan, and go Noles!

 

Supriya Sharma

University of California, Berkeley

Supriya, more known as Priya, is an incredible force on the Collegiate Circuit, both within conference and competition. She is known both for her powerhouse delegate presence and incredible speeches in any crisis committee, and being the Secretary-General for the 27th iteration of UCBMUN, the highest ranking West Coast conference of last year. Priya inspires the UC Berkeley team — not only because of her incredible efforts in planning a conference and engaging in competitive and staff training — but because she balances MUN, Greek Life, and work, with being an incredibly thoughtful, kind, and slay friend. We are extremely lucky to now have her as the president of our beloved team, and we are incredibly excited to see Priya’s upcoming future.

 

Tara Ganguly

University of California, Los Angeles

Tara has been nothing short of an indomitable force on the MUN circuit this past year. She is not only one of the most creative and powerful delegates around but also boasts a charming personality, both inside and outside of committee. From her penchant for Latin American committees to her catchy directive titles, she always finds a way to make people smile and make committee that much more fun. Whether she is representing a congresswoman or a union organizer, she has made friends all across the circuit which just goes to show how truly kind and personable she is. Within MUN at UCLA, she has supported countless staff members as a former USG of LAMUN and is now killing it as our Director of External. To top it all off, she also is the best sorority girl around, serving on UCLA’s Panhellenic Council. Tara embodies all the best parts of what it means to be a delegate and a team member and we can’t wait to see all of the amazing things she accomplishes with MUN at UCLA this year!

 

Vishwaa Sofat

University of California, Berkeley

Vishwaa Sofat. A man of many talents, including (very importantly) Model UN! Vish was the president of UCBMUN in the 2022-2023 school year, and boy, did he leave a mark on our organization. Bringing UCBMUN to our highest, top-5 ranking in recent years, Vish effortlessly balanced being president, with being an amazing student, consulting bro, friend, and delegate. Between implementing countless new efforts into the club, reformatting training, pulling a million all nighters at Moffit Library, and staying #teamdad, Vish put his heart and soul into this club and its success. Reaching his second all-star selection (with another year to go!) is a feat in and of itself, and one that few individuals achieve. The most impressing part about Vish though, is not the awards or honors. It is how much he continually cares about what he puts his time into, including UCBMUN, and the people around him. UCBMUN cannot begin to express the amount of pride and gratitude we have in Vish, and we are so so excited to see what he does next!

 

Zoe Ellingwood

Clark University

From writing some of the best clauses the GA circuit has ever seen to navigating even the most difficult Q&A votes with grace and diplomacy, Zoe has reshaped what it means to be a GA delegate at Clark. She has thrived in some of the circuit’s most challenging conferences and committees, bringing home awards in everything from niche legal committees to large general assemblies that would intimidate even the most seasoned dels. Aside from being an absolute force of nature in every committee she walks into, her team knows her as a constant advocate for Clark’s delegates, the life of the party, and one of the best leaders Clark’s travel team has ever seen. As Treasurer for the 2022-23 year, Zoe worked tirelessly to make traveling to conferences more financially accessible, spent countless afternoons mentoring first-year delegates, and embodied what it means to be a truly fearless leader. The Clark Model UN team is endlessly lucky to have Zoe taking on the role of Senior President this year, and our previous leadership is happy to leave the team in the hands of one of its best leaders, mentors, and delegates.

COLLEGE MODEL UN ALL-STAR TEAM (SECOND TEAM)

Bailey Vandewalle

Florida State University

Bailey Vandewalle is a senior at Florida State University, and has competed in Model UN since high school. Last year, Bailey continued to find success on the collegiate circuit through hard work and a passion for the MUN community, receiving multiple Best Delegate and other individual awards while contributing significantly to the FSU team’s overall success and #8 ranking. Bailey currently serves as Director of the Florida State University World Affairs Program and MUN Team, and previously served as Secretary-General of NoleMUN II. Her dedication to FSU’s team and to the development of well-rounded, competitive, and kind delegates will continue to impact the circuit this year. She is also excited to be the Crisis Director for the NoleMUN Ad-Hoc this February!

 

Emilee Jones

University of Florida

Never Back Down Never What? The University of Florida’s Model UN team is proud to highlight one of our best and brightest, Emilee Jones. Emilee Jones, Vermont native, is a Junior majoring in Economics and International Studies with a Concentration and Minor in European Studies. She served as the Director of Recruitment and Retention on our executive board, helping our new members make friends and #liveitup. Emilee has been a huge support system, from every time someone dropped a bev on her carpet during Baseball to every time she listened to a freshman cry about growing pains to every time an Out-of-stater Gator was homesick (did you know she’s from Vermont?). Anyone who has met her knows she is fierce, passionate, and caring. Her tact and ability to convince anyone of anything is wildly impressive– and a little scary to anyone on the opposite side. She is a competitive travel delegate, GA connoisseur, and the life of the party. We like to say she is the “Vibes Patrol,” a required position when surrounded by debate kids who want to win. This, however, is not to diminish her accomplishments as a delegate (NCSC Verbal, UNCMUNC Gavel, & UCBMUN Honorable) or her accomplishments in her newest role, SunMUN II Secretary General. Emilee Jones is excited to welcome all of you to her event management dream which she has worked tirelessly to elevate to the level of other travel conferences. Having moved the Conference to Orlando from its Gainesville home, brainstormed some of the best committees to hit the circuit (we’re biased), and a host of socials that will truly make this weekend “the Circuit Spring Break.” We want to thank Emilee Jones for being a formative member of our team, being a good role model for all “emily/emilee/emilie/emely/emme lee’s,” and for being an amazing roommate (Mu Upsilon Nu Haus is unbeatable).Next time you see Emilee, ask her about the UF MUN travel Bingo, MUN house antics, SunMUN II, Gator Football, or the northeast (she’s from Vermont).

 

Emily MimsEM

University of Florida

Emily Mims, a positive force for change and powerhouse on the circuit, is a third year studying History with a minor in Education Studies and Public Relations. Currently serving as the president of the University of Florida Model United Nations Team for the second year in a row she has been instrumental in raising team rankings from top 75 to number 11. Before her time as President, she held leadership roles freshmen year and spent sophomore year as our Director of Conference logistics. Emily is the definition of a team player, she’s the first and loudest to cheer for others both at closing but more importantly day-to-day here in Gainesville. Everyone who has the opportunity to get to know her understands how infectious and positive her energy is (go gata). Emily continued her impressive competition resume adding gavels and paper at UNCMUNC, McMUN, and NCSC for UFMUN. She also serves as a top rated director for both our high school conference Gatormun and collegiate conference SunMUN, always cooking up crazy crisis updates. (Ir)regardless Emily Mims’ greatest strength is her ability to motivate others whether a team member is crying on the Chomun bathroom floor between sessions, dealing with insurance on Atlanta highways or lacking energy drinks in committee she is there always with a smile and solutions. We are so proud of you Mims and thanks to you we won’t back down.

 

Hayley Serpa

Florida International University

Hayley Serpa is currently pursuing her master’s degree at FIU and was a Head Delegate for the FIU Model UN team during the 2022-23 school year. To say Hayley was one of the best delegates ever at FIU is an understatement. She is the best person and delegate you could ever encounter on the circuit, even outside of committee. She is also one of the smartest, helpful, dedicated, and most well-researched person you could know. Hayley is known for her killer crisis arcs, creative talent, being a UNSC queen, and not to mention…gaveling and awarding practically every committee she did. Her passion and skills for Model UN is relentless and we couldn’t be more proud to see her name as a part of the Best Delegate All-Star team for the third year in a row. We will miss her never ending support for every single person on the team and her competitive spirit that inspired and uplifted so many of us. Her legacy will always remain on the FIU team and the collegiate MUN circuit. We wish Hayley as much success as she brought to the team, and hope to see her continue to thrive as a leader in anything she accomplishes.

 

Hunter Hinson

University of Southern California

Hunter Hinson—a former Secretary-General of TrojanMUN and 4x executive board member of MUNSC—recently graduated from USC with a double major in Political Science and Communications, a perfect 4.0, and more than enough conference awards to last a lifetime. Since joining the team as a freshman, Hunter has proven to be a powerhouse at USC and on the circuit. Known for his scathing speech openers and defying all laws of physics, gravity, and Model U.N. to lead unlikely mergers between the most tumultuous of blocs, Hunter inspires his team, leading by example for generations of baby MUNers to come. His tenacity truly knows no bounds: Hunter organized the first in-person TrojanMUN since the pandemic struck, raised several new member classes as a Director of Recruitment and Director of New Member training, and picked up either gavels or paper awards at every conference he attended—it’s a mystery how he’s done it all while refusing to drink caffeine. This fall, Hunter will begin pursuing a Master’s in Social Science of the Internet with a full ride at Oxford University. While his British accent definitely needs some work, the team is confident that he will continue to impress all he meets, finding endless success wherever he ventures. We’re so proud of you, Hunter, and we’re excited to see what’s in store for you! Cheers, and FIGHT ON FOREVER!!!

 

Jack Alarie

Concordia University

Jack Alarie, a long-standing head delegate and member of Concordia’s External Delegation, is a force to be reckoned with. He has provided invaluable insights for our team and shone brightly on the circuit. Jack leads with incredible charisma and innovative ideas and is a stellar example for other Concordian delegates. His commitment to our team’s cohesiveness and his confident approach in committees is a source of inspiration to us all. As Jack enters his last year majoring in Economics and competing on the circuit, we are beyond excited to see what he will accomplish. There is no doubt that he will continue on his path of excellence. We will always be grateful to Jack for his unwavering service and dedication.

 

Jessie Gabriel

Clark University

Proud LinkedIn aficionado, eco-tourism expert, and certified GA girly, Jessie is leaving a wildly successful MUN career both on and off the circuit. Having been the Chief of Administration for Clark U’s delegation team, ClarkMUN Secretary General and GA Head Del, Jessie has worn many hats in the past four years. She is among the most traveled delegates in Clark history, and has certainly ascertained a lasting reputation from her peers. Not only has she competed and awarded in a range of committees from Ad-Hocs to ECOSOCs to Large double-dels, Jessie’s true colors shine as a mentor, leader, and friend to all. Her passion for niche clauses, unconventional speech openings and inspiring younger delegates on the team will be dearly missed. One can only hope to wear 6-inch heels in New England weather or chaotically navigate city metro systems and still make it on time as well as she can. She is what Clark MUN strives to be, through and through and we wish her the best of luck & success as she embarks her next chapter at the University of Chicago this fall.

 

Kasvi MalhotraK

University of Southern California

One of MUNSC’s dearly departed, Kasvi graduated from the University of Southern California this spring with a degree in Economics. As a competitor, Kasvi has awarded at every conference she’s attended this year, receiving Outstanding Delegate at UPMUNC55 and Best Delegate at UCBMUN 2023. Throughout her time in MUN, Kasvi has also been a major presence across all three branches of MUNSC leadership; previously, Kasvi was Deputy Secretary-General of SCMUN, a Director of New Member Training, and this year, Kasvi served as the Secretary-General of TrojanMUN 2022, overseeing the success of eleven committees (and the best social on the circuit ).Most importantly, Kasvi will always be remembered as an older sister to many members of the team, in part due to her caring and protective nature, and in part due to literally being older than the rest of the team. Kasvi’s vibrant energy and ability to rally was key to the social core of MUNSC, and Kasvi will always be remembered as an embodiment of her favorite motto — fight the **** on! Outside of working as an associate at the Boston Consulting Group in LA, you can find Kasvi reading, playing badminton, swimming, and slaying.

 

Kelly Zhang

Florida State University

Kelly graduated from undergrad at FSU in May 2023 with a dual degree in International Affairs and Economics, and is currently pursuing a Master’s of Applied Economics at Florida State. Kelly does not want to overstay her visit so unfortunately her time on the Model UN circuit is over now, but she attributes her time traveling to conferences as some of her favorite experiences from undergrad. This past year was especially special for her as Kelly co-led the Florida State team in points earned with Emilie Parry, and was the sole leader among GA delegates. Kelly’s love for Model UN led her to serve as the club’s Assistant Director of Involvement where she recruited new members to our team and sold them on the fun they could have in the club. Kelly hopes to have left a legacy of kindness, laughter, and GA Superiority as she moves on into the next phase of her life!

 

Leah Szczepanski

University of Georgia

Leah Szczepanski was a beloved member of the Model UN community. Her dedication to UGA’s team and to her committees was unmatched. You may have seen her at SUNMUN, VICS, or a number of other conferences. As the Director-General of UGAMUN she led the charge with starting the University of Georgia’s first collegiate conference, DawgMUN (which she named). The only thing that rivaled her love for MUN was her love for 4-H, a program she participated in all throughout her academic career. Leah studied International Affairs and Russian at the University of Georgia with the hopes of one day working for the Federal Government. UGA’s two major conferences, DawgMUN and UGAMUNC, will be dedicated in her name. We love you, Leah. Everything we do this year, we do for you.

 

Nicole Jonassen

Claremont McKenna College

Nicole is a senior at Claremont McKenna studying Politics, Philosophy, and Economics, and participates in a variety of news and research organizations on campus as well as Model UN. As President of the CMCMUN team, Nicole Jonassen has made a name for herself on the circuit not only as an powerful speaker, collaborator, and crisis competitor, but as a near universally known leader and charismatic personality. Nicole’s success on the circuit is undeniable, with three best delegate awards and two outstanding awards out of her five conferences in the last year, a stunning level of consistency across historical, modern, and science fiction committees. Her success on the circuit comes from Nicole’s outstanding mastership over every part of the crisis style, from powerful and entrancing speaking to creative and entertaining crisis arcs. Nicole is beloved across the circuit, and has developed close relationships with many of the circuit’s most prominent schools’ head delegates through her competitive prowess and magnetic personality. In practice, in competition, and in the executive MUN board room, Nicole is a confident leader, delegate, and friend, and has undeniably shaped CMC’s Model UN team for the better.

 

Priyanka Shingwekar

Georgetown University

Both feared and beloved across the collegiate Model UN circuit, Priyanka Shingwekar literally has an unparalleled track record of success. Priyanka is the outgoing Conferences Coordinator and Head Delegate of the Georgetown Model United Nations team (GUMUN), and a member of Georgetown University class of 2023. In her time competing with GUMUN, Priyanka racked up a jaw-dropping 11 best delegate awards, a Georgetown record! As a senior, she won an award at every single one of the six conferences she attended, including gavels in the highly competitive BarMUN, UPMUNC, McMUN, and LAMUN Ad-Hoc Committees. Priyanka has incredible range; regardless of whether it is a crisis committee or a general assembly, single-delegation or double-delegation, an Ad-Hoc or a UNSC, Priyanka is an unstoppable competitor and a force to be reckoned with. What’s her secret?! Can’t tell you, it’s [REDACTED]. Perhaps even more impressive than her gavel bouquet is her leadership of Team GUMUN. As our Conferences Coordinator and Head Delegate, Priyanka committed herself to being a resource to her teammates, a champion for inclusion and accessibility, and a constant source of positivity. On her watch, GUMUN climbed to the #2 spot in Best Delegate’s rankings even while holding no tryouts and hosting NCSC, Georgetown’s highly ranked collegiate conference. Thank you, Priyanka, for your countless hours of hard work, mentorship, and unforgettable friendship. Your plane has now landed, but thanks to you, ours has taken off in full force!

 

Sydney Steger

Boston University

Simply put, Sydney Steger has left MUN@BU better than she found it. She joined the team in Fall 2019, hoping to pursue an activity she had loved in high school. Little did she know that she would play an instrumental part in the most transformative time in the team’s history. As a two time Team Director and the Co-Head Delegate of the past year, Sydney oversaw the 2020 team rebrand, reintroduction of both the Cut Team and the Muntor-Muntee program, return to in person competition, and BU’s move to a consistent top 10 team (three years running!). Behind the scenes, she acted as our team’s logistical genius, taking on the dreaded role of planning trip logistics without complaint. At the same time, the circuit watched her easily move from GA to Crisis committees, finding equal success debating East Asian tourism policy and the hypothetical division of Antarctica. She entered every committee armed with a brain full of zappy speech hooks, an unmatched collection of felt tipped markers, and a near insane crisis arc plan. She was an incredible competitor, and leaves BU with the second all-time record for Best Delegate awards. More importantly, however, she was an unflappable sportswoman. Win or lose, her love for MUN, respect for her fellow delegates, and can-do attitude extended inside and outside of committee. The team will never forget her, or that cow she took to the bank. Sydney, because MUN@BU knew you, we have all been changed for good. We love you and cannot wait to see what you accomplish.

 

Vikrant Magadi

University of Chicago

As a Model UN veteran, Vikrant Magadi led the UChicago Team to success in his final year as Head Del while grabbing more than a few individual awards —often on some of the hardest committees the circuit has to offer. On committee, Vikrant is known for his booming voice, his ability to make clear and impactful speeches while making sure to also amplify the voices of people around him, and of course, his wacky acronyms and (only sometimes) ~technology based~ arcs. During his time on UChicago’s competitive team, Vikrant has been a mentor to countless people on the Team (and the mastermind behind many UChicago delegates’ best and most absurd arcs). Ask anyone who’s been lucky enough to be the subject of one of his famous projection lessons, and they will tell you that some advice or example from Vicky’s repertoire of MUN expertise has changed the way they see this activity forever. As he finally leaves his decade of decorum behind for the real world, both the team and the circuit will miss his unique laugh, pep-talks, dad-like behaviors, and his friendship. We wish him the best of luck in his post MUN career!

COLLEGE MODEL UN ALL-STAR TEAM (THIRD TEAM)

Abigail Keating

Georgetown University

Abigail Keating, delegate extraordinaire, can be described as many things. The circuit’s de facto energy drink brand ambassador, the life of the party at every conference club night, grand crisis manager of the toughest war games committees, and so much more. But above all, Abby is one of the most inspiring and talented delegates on the circuit and a role model for all. Abby has been involved in Georgetown Model UN for the past four years, serving most recently as Deputy of Training for competitive delegates. Thanks to her hard work and dedication, she mentored numerous new and experienced delegates, created a top-notch training program, and never failed to lend a helping hand or shoulder to cry on during the many conferences she traveled to. She was integral in skyrocketing Georgetown’s rank to #2 in North America, as the highest-ranking team in the continent to have no tryouts and also host its own conference. This year, Abby received awards at many top-ranked conferences, including gavels at both McMUN and VICS. You may also recognize Abby from her stellar committees she ran at NCSC, Georgetown’s collegiate conference, where one delegate described her one-woman crisis backroom as a total machine. Abby is an amazing delegate, inspirational leader, and true friend whose impact on GUMUN will be remembered for years to come.

 

Calvin Osborne

Harvard University

Some of you may know Calvin best for his pink hair era, and others will know him from his wildly successful crisis performance across nearly every Ad-Hoc committee on the circuit. Calvin is a current junior at Harvard College, and since joining HICMUN his freshman fall, has made an impression on both our team and the circuit writ-large. Starting humbly, he has risen through our ranks from Deputy Director of Socials to being both Head Delegate of our competitive team and Undersecretary General of the Specialized Agencies at HMUN, Harvard’s high school conference. He is responsible for so much of the community on our team, from running ridiculously complicated Murder Mystery parties to making midnight Head Del meetings a joy to take part in night after night. We are so lucky to have him as an example for both upper and underclassmen on our team (especially for the IC-babies!). No one cares more about this team than Calvin or dedicates more time to ensuring that everyone is always having the best time, on or off campus. Beyond his impact on our IC-Family, we have been so lucky to watch Calvin grow as a delegate, with crisis arcs ranging from creating -inators to rediscovering Atlantis to a high school Furry-mance. With the most gavels of anyone on our team (6!), Calvin is a force to be reckoned with, and we are so lucky to call him our wonderful Head Delegate. We cannot wait to see what Calvin does in the next two years on the circuit, and we are looking forward to Thursday, 3AM, airport brainstorming sessions for many, many more conferences.

 

Charles Moore

Boston University

Charles Moore, more commonly known as Charlie, is a man of many talents. The MUN@BU Team is thankful to have had him as an active team member over the past three years, serving as a Director from 2021-2022, and most recently Co-Head Delegate this past year, ending out the year keeping MUN@BU’s top-ten ranking streak! Charlie is currently a Senior at BU, studying Journalism. However, Charlie never allowed his major to pigeon-hole him (despite continued success in Press Corps committees). Charlie tackled topics from the Mekong River Commission to the MLB, bringing passion and excitement to each and every committee. This passion earned him many awards over the past three years, and has made him a formidable (and heavily caffeinated) delegate! Charlie is not shy with his creative ideas in the crisis room, with arcs ranging from a gavel-worthy furry mascot to YouTube influencer schemes. Within the MUN@BU Team, Charlie has brought similar energy. Members of the team know Charlie as someone they can talk to, share a laugh with, or even (true story) throw a ball around with. An amazing delegate, Co-Head Del, and friend, Charlie will be missed (until he returns from Paris Study Abroad in the Spring)!!

 

Elliot Lin

University of Chicago

As one of the Vice Presidents of Team this past year, Elliot was a force inside and outside of their committees. Elliot jumped into their time as a Head Del by competing on various UNSCs and Ad-Hocs on the circuit, making a name for themselves as a compassionate and creative crisis del. They have inspired all of us to do our best, whether that’s by modulating our speeches, coming up with silly arc ideas, or just by sitting outside the committee room on the floor. They have also created a space that has made everyone feel comfortable learning the ropes of MUN. Outside of training, Elliot can always be found bringing food to members of the team or inserting “per chance?” into every sentence. Next year, Elliot will return as one of the co-Presidents of the Team, and we are so excited to see how they will inspire all on the team with confidence and skill unparalleled by those around them.

 

Emilie Parry

Florida State University

Emilie is a rising senior at Florida State studying International Affairs and Theatre, contributing to the fun and fresh perspective on Model UN that she enters committee rooms with (if you’ve ever been in committee with Emilie, you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about – she’s a force to be reckoned with). Forever willing to spice up a conference social or a team meeting, Emilie truly was the heart and soul of FSU MUN – she served both as the Vice Director and as one of the Head Delegates for FSU’s team this year, proving herself to be a strong and brilliant leader, constantly gushing about how proud she was of FSU’s delegates. During conference breaks, you could always find her helping others on the team, working through the weekends to eventually earn the most points on FSU’s team (tied with Kelly Zhang, GA Genius and best friend) including three gavels at AIRMUNC, VICS, and ChoMUN. She also CD’d her first committee at NoleMUN II, Eat or be Eaten (which she often called her ‘baby’) and put everything she could into running the room. Model UN has been the highlight of her college career and she has found so much joy in the last three years, with MUN conference weekends being some of her favorite memories. Although we’re heartbroken to see her leave the circuit, we cannot wait to see the heights to which life takes her! We love you Emilie!!! Go Noles!

 

Emma Wong

Georgetown University

After only two years, Emma has already proven herself to be an amazing delegate and role model for the Georgetown Model UN team and across the circuit. Emma has managed to gaslight, gatekeep, and girlboss her way across all committee styles, with amazing showings in General Assembly, Crisis, and UNSC-style committees. Additionally, in her capacity as a member of the GUMUN Conferences Staff, she has served as a kind and dedicated coach to other members of GUMUN, offering incredible advice and support ranging from giving great speeches, putting together creative crisis arcs, and building up our dels’ confidence, in addition to providing logistical support and overall kindness that has been invaluable to the team’s overall success. This past year, Emma gaveled at ChoMUN, in addition to earning an Outstanding at &MUN and Honorables at UPMUNC and McMUN. While giving a legendary performance on the collegiate circuit, she also served as Under-Secretary-General of Assemblies & Summits at NCSC 50. The team is so excited to see what Emma will continue to accomplish and contribute to GUMUN and the circuit over the next two years. Emma, thank you for an amazing year of friendship, fun memories, and Model UN victories!

 

Julia O’Neal

University of Georgia

Julia O’Neal is a fourth year double major in International Affairs and French with a minor in Political Science. She gained a passion for politics through doing Model UN at her high school in Roswell, GA. This is her 10th year doing Model UN. Besides her role on the Model UN team, Julia is the Beauty Editor for Rouge Magazine, does makeup for the Student Merchandising Association, Fashion Design Student Association, and the UGA Agency, and has some involvement in Greek life. This is her second year serving as UGAMUN’s Head Delegate. Not only is she a fantastic delegate, but a fantastic friend always there for her team.

 

Karina Vandenhoven

McGill University

Karina served as the Head Delegate for the McGill Delegation Team for the year of 2022/23. Prior to this role, she served as the Deputy Head Delegate, and served as an active member of the team, mentoring delegates and helping them reach their potential. Karina is now studying Law at the University of Toronto, and is very missed at McGill! Karina is a fierce leader, a fiery Crisis delegate and an incredible role model. On behalf of the McGill Delegation Team, we are so proud of Karina, and thank her for all of her kindness, mentoring and support. She is truly one of a kind, and will be missed on the MUN circuit!

 

Lauren Giddings

American University

What sets Lauren apart is their exceptional ability to connect with others personally. Beyond leadership and delegate skills, Lauren fosters camaraderie within the AUMUN family, turning every practice session and conference into gatherings of close friends. Lauren’s delegate skills shine with four gavels and accolades at three esteemed conferences during the season, a testament to their unwavering commitment to excellence. Originally from Utah, Lauren found a home in AUMUN while maintaining a deep connection to the USF MUN team where they began their MUN legacy. AUMUN is proud and grateful for Lauren’s leadership in the 2022-2023 season. We are confident that Lauren will continue to shine as a leader, mentor, and friend upon their return to the circuit. Lauren Giddings is a luminary in Collegiate Model United Nations, leaving an enduring legacy of excellence, leadership, and personal connection. Their impact is profound and lasting, touching the hearts of all who know them

 

Max Bagga

Emory University

 

Merissa Joju

American University
 
Merissa Joju exemplifies the qualities that all delegates – and leaders – should aspire to. Merissa joined the team just two years ago with no prior MUN experience and has since grown into both one of the most successful competitors and best mentors that AU has to offer. Merissa has become AU’s de facto double-del GA competitor: awarding in every GA she has competed in and adding some variety by gaveling in a UNSC last Spring. In just a few short months on leadership, Merissa has already set a new standard for wisdom, compassion, and vitality on the AUMUN team and helped lead AU to its second year as the top ranked team in the circuit. Over the past two years, Merissa has truly become the heart and soul of the team: the first one looked to for guidance, the last one to stop working, and the best person to have in your corner at a conference. No one is more deserving of this recognition than Merissa and all of us at AUMUN cannot wait to see the new heights the team reaches with her as our Head Delegate this year!
 
 
Mia Rodriguez
 
Florida International University
 
Mia Rodriguez, one of the current Head Delegates of the FIU Model UN Team has always been a bundle of energy to excite the team. Heading into the third year on this FIU team, every conference has been one of growth and experience for Mia, including coming off a stellar year that ended with Mia’s first gavel in the JCC at CHOMUN XXVI. Mia has worked tirelessly everyday to help the FIU MUN team and it is this spirit of Panther Pride that propels Mia’s selection as an All-Star. We on the FIU MUN team could not be proud for Mia and more grateful! Paws Up!
 
 
Mikele Mancuso
 
Florida International University
 
Mikele Mancuso has been nothing short of extraordinary under travel with FIUMUN as he attended every single conference we attended this past competitive season! His clear dedication to competing under FIUMUN is also mirrored by his track record showing that he can consistently award and look fantastic in his red blazer while doing it. From coming in clutch at McMUN when working as a dual del to his Outstanding at HNMUN with a committee arguably no one else on our team could have done, Mikele has shown his Panther pride in and out of committee which is a clear factor in his success! Mikele is also an impressive student in international relations and Chinese at FIU with tons of experience in MUN (check out his LinkedIn) including serving as a Head Delegate for FIUMUN in this upcoming year which he could not be more excited for.
 
 
Miller McCraw
 
Claremont McKenna College
 
Miller McCraw is the epitome of selflessness. It was an incredible privilege to watch Miller grow in his role as Crisis Training Manager for CMCMUN since January of 2022. In fact, he has served in this role for three consecutive terms—an indelible testament to his teammates’ unwavering trust in his ability to guide them through a milieu of crisis situations and scenarios. When he’s not updating his killer collection of books or creating street art pieces with accompanying social commentary, Miller is constantly pushing the bounds of his creativity as he graciously works to brainstorm arcs and give advice to a crisis contingent of 2-7 people at each conference before finally crafting his own masterful arc. Despite managing these mentorship and training commitments, Miller has shown no sign of compromising his own competitive flare and collaborative integrity. In the fall, Miller exceptionally proved that there were more competitive feats in CMCMUN history to set, gaveling in three Ad Hoc Committees in a row and all in the same month at BarMUN, TrojanMUN, and NCSC. In the spring, Miller consistently earned awards at HNMUN, UCBMUN, and topped off a stellar season performance with a coveted crisis gavel at Harvard WorldMUN—skillfully commandeering Bulgarian railways at the Paris Peace Conference. As he enters his final year, I am confident that the content of Miller’s character will shine through to each and every delegate he meets, particularly as he greets you with a warm face in committee while adorning a snazzy rubber duck tie. Miller’s willing leadership has not only been an instrumental asset to the CMCMUN team’s pluralistic growth, but should serve as an exemplar of a crisis circuit built on kindness, collaboration, and compassion. We are truly all the more better for it.
 
 
Senthil Meyyappan
 
Boston University
 
50% GA Del, 50% Crisis Del, and 100% force of nature; Senthil Meyyappan is one to watch. Senthil has been doing Model UN since the 8th grade, and since joining MUN@BU, has shown no sign of slowing down. While he spent his Freshmen year excelling in regional ECOSOCs, Senthil has since branched out, becoming one of BU’s most well-rounded delegates. This year alone he competed in Specialized, ECOSOC, double del GA, and Crisis committees back to back, taking home a handful of gavels with him! On the BU MUN team, Senthil is well known for his meticulous preparation, extremely long clauses, and hatred of Google Docs. More importantly, he is beloved for the exuberance, passion, and drive he puts into any space he is in. His ever present good energy and care for others makes him a good delegate, and an even better friend. In his free time, Senthil loves watching the Atlanta Falcons lose, eating Paris Baguette, and having conversations mostly consisting of “soooo true”. The team cannot wait to see how he brings this attitude to leadership, as he takes on Co-Head Delegateship of MUN@BU. We love you Senthil, and are so proud of you!
 
 
Vihaan Ambre
 
Virginia Tech
 
Vihaan is an outstanding head delegate who constantly pushes the boundaries of what defines a crisis arc within committee. Many on the circuit will know him for his slightly above-average consumption of energy drinks in committee or his one blue Hawaiian shirt he wears to every closing ceremony. Vihaan continually brings new, innovative ideas to his committees and mentors other delegates to develop their own arcs that cause chaos and entertainment in the committee. As a delegate, he blends a passionate, professional intonation with several funny, uplifting speeches that always make people laugh. Vihaan’s leadership has also sparked a competitive and consistent development of professional skills throughout the circuit, particularly in Virginia Tech Model UN’s team. As last year’s Vice President and current President of VTMUN, there is no doubt that Virginia Tech Model UN is in amazing hands for the organization and the circuit going forward. He is an absolutely fantastic delegate, and we are so excited to continue to see him do more amazing things!
 
 
Zamaan Qureshi
 
American University
 
Since joining the American University Model United Nations team in the depths of the pandemic, Zamaan Qureshi has become a rocket ship that soared to unprecedented success as both a leader and competitor. After helping lead AUMUN to its first ever #1 ranking in 2022 as an Assistant Head Delegate, Zamaan took on the role of Head Delegate this past season with mounting pressure to build on the team’s success. He did just that, making circuit history as he led the team to its second #1 ranking in a row, all while earning 5 awards (4 of them in UNSC) at an impressive 7 conferences of his own. More importantly, he used his role as a top-5 team leader to better this circuit. Bringing together other MUN teams across the country, he demanded conferences meet higher standards and led virtual discussions promoting inclusive behavior within and across teams. And of course, all of this is just a side hustle to Zamaan’s real work: defeating Big Tech. In addition to everything he has accomplished as an International Studies major and in Model UN, he also manages to be a Policy Advisor for the Real Facebook Oversight Board, Co-Chair the youth coalition, Design it for Us, and…oh yeah, sue the SEC. We are immensely proud of what Zamaan has accomplished over the past three years and wish him all the best as he gets some necessary R&R while abroad this semester.
 
 
Congratulations to all the delegates! Thank you for your leadership in college Model UN this year. We look forward to seeing how college Model UN continues next year.
 
 
 
 

Vote for the 2022-2023 North American College All-Star Team

Here at Best Delegate, we want to make sure that the community’s hard work and dedication this year is recognized. There were a lot of college MUN leaders who had to step up and lead — conference organizers who had to create new experiences, head delegates who had to recruit and train their teams virtually, and many other leaders who have contributed to the college MUN community in intangible ways. College MUN would not have been possible without these leaders this year.

last years winners

Each year, Best Delegate invites the North American Collegiate Model United Nations community to vote for exemplary university delegates for our annual All-Star Team. Members of the All-Star Team are active MUNers that also positively impacted the community both inside and outside committee on the college circuit. These delegates can be consistent winners on the circuit or delegates that demonstrate to you the qualities you admire in Model UN: diplomacy, cooperation, innovation, leadership, and creativity.

How does voting work?

In order to be eligible to vote, you must be a college student that has participated as a staff member or delegate at a North American collegiate conference in the 2022-2023 season. You are allowed to nominate up to 7 delegates or staffers that you see fit, and each name will be considered one vote. Due to the All-Star Team’s emphasis on community, students may only vote for up to two delegates or staffers from their own school out of the 7 total votes and, students may not vote for themselves.

Votes will be tallied, and the individuals that received the most votes will be announced as members of the North American Collegiate All-Star Team. While Best Delegate will edit inconsistencies and misspellings to the best of its ability, it will validate submissions under the following Ballot Rules:

Qualifications:

  • Candidate must have participated as a delegate or staffer in at least one collegiate Model United Nations conference in North America during the 2022-2023 academic year.
  • Students must include the name and school of each nominee to verify candidates’ participation at a conference.

Ballot Information:

  • Ballots will go live starting today, Wednesday, August 2, 2023 and nominations will conclude on Monday, August 14, 2023 at 11:59pm PST. Ballots submitted afterward will not count towards the vote tally.
  • Each individual may only submit one ballot. Multiple ballots submitted with the same information will be considered invalid.
  • Votes must follow the rules indicated on the ballot.

This Year’s Categories:

  • All-Star Ballot (Best Delegates)
  • Best Chairs and Crisis Directors
  • Delegate’s Choice for Best College MUN Conference
  • Delegate’s Choice for Best College MUN Team

Click Here to Vote for the 2022-2023 College All-Stars!

2022-2023 North American College Model U.N. Final Rankings (World Division)

AU

There are many definitions of success in Model UN, and awards are only one extrinsic way of measuring success. Nevertheless, awards 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.

Every year, the College MUN rankings celebrate the MUN teams that showed immense resilience by not only enduring despite the year’s challenges, but also succeeding at the highest level possible in collegiate Model UN.

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 since 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 ranking. 

Awards data were provided by the conferences, and we could only use the 22 conferences that chose to provide data. We did our best to reach out to all conferences that we’re aware of. Tiers change every year based on data and are as follows for this year: 

HNMUN
McMUN
ChoMUN, NCSC
BarMUN
VICS, UNCMUNC, UCBMUN
UPMUNC, TrojanMUN, &MUN
SBIMUN, LAMUN, NYUMUNC, CMUNNY, CIAC, CONMUN
NAMUN, SUNMUN, NoleMUN, MUNE
AIRMUNC
AU

TOP 25 TEAMS

  1. American University

AU

American University completely dominated the circuit this year and is the #1 ranked team for the second straight year. This rare feat has only been accomplished one other time in the history of the rankings (UChicago’s three-peat during the 2013-2016 seasons). 

American won by far the most individual awards, the second most gavels, and the most delegation awards across a circuit-high twelve MUN conferences. In fact, their team’s total weighted score was about the same as if #2 Georgetown and #13 Harvard were combined into one team. 

They came in second in weighted score among North American teams at HNMUN and first in weighted score at McMUN, taking home Outstanding Large at the latter by ratio. On top of those competitive performances, the team racked up delegation awards with Best Large at NCSC, Best Large at BarMUN, Best Small at UNCMUNC, Best Small at UCBMUN, Outstanding Large at &MUN, Best Large at CMUNNY, and Outstanding Small at NYUMUNC. 

From the team: American University’s success story, rising in the ranks over the course of a few short years was nothing short of a feat, made possible only by the sheer passion, drive, and dedication of its members, what we all consider to be family. Our continued success lies in the determination of its members, veteran and new, to never stay stagnant. From the three-peat Best Large Delegation Awards that brought us to the #1 spot in the fall, to the coast-to-coast simultaneous victories in the spring, AUMUN never ceases to amaze. They are, put simply, a force that continues to be reckoned with. It’s evidenced by the record-breaking point achievements to the perpetual late nights of not just training, but genuine friendship like no other. I’ve always remained in awe of this team, with its camaraderie of which there is no rival, of its unwavering commitment to mentorship in and out of the committee room, and its celebrations of every win. AUMUN has and will continue to dominate the circuit with some of the best competitors there are. They dominate not only in their friendship, compassion, and loyalty to each other but also in their call to foster a new age of inclusivity and equity in the circuit. Our leadership this past year shouldered tremendous expansions to make this team even better. To our seniors, this team would not be where it is without you, because all those years ago your class put AU in its highest rank ever and catapulted us here today. The powerhouse that is AUMUN looks forward to the upcoming season with a team and a family that will hopefully stop taking “tokens” from conference hotels, will continue to have major water wars and extensive debriefs and will usher in our new incoming class with the same rigor and passion for MUN and diplomacy. Last year, we achieved our highest rank ever, and it wasn’t even close. We can’t wait for the year to come!

  1. Georgetown University

Georgetown

Georgetown won five delegation awards across nine MUN conferences to achieve the #2 rank on the circuit this year. Georgetown is an incredibly consistent team and has placed #2 in eight of the past eleven years. 

Although the team tied for the fifth most individual awards, many of these came from the more competitive conferences. This included placing second in weighted score at McMUN, an Outstanding Large at ChoMUN, a Best Large at VICS, and Outstanding Large at BarMUN, a Best Small at &MUN, and a Best Large at UPMUNC. Georgetown also hosted NCSC. 

From the team: GUMUN had a fantastic competitive year, with consistently stellar performances during both the fall and spring seasons. Our team has been a strong presence at every conference and we walked away with five delegation awards this year. During this season, our team’s leadership operated with an emphasis on balancing competitiveness with inclusivity. We pride ourselves on not letting tryouts or travel costs bar anyone from competing, allowing GUMUN to bring over 50 students to conferences across North America. We are incredibly grateful for our members who continue to raise the bar and exceed expectations across the board. The passion, dedication, and kindness of each and every one of our delegates is always inspiring, and we’re excited to see what they will accomplish next year. GUMUN has a bright future ahead of them under the leadership of their next Head Delegate, Charlie Biggs, and the rest of the Conferences Staff. Hoya Saxa!

  1. University of Chicago

UChicago won the most gavels and the second most individual awards en route to four delegation awards across eight conferences. UChicago has placed within the top five in the entire 13-year history of the rankings and is the only team to achieve this feat. 

Their strongest performance this year was coming in first in weighted score among North American teams at HNMUN. They also won Outstanding Large at NCSC, Best Small at TrojanMUN, Outstanding Large at UPMUNC, and Outstanding Small at LAMUN. UChicago also hosted ChoMUN. 

  1. University of California, Berkeley

Berkeley achieved its highest rank ever by winning the fourth most individual awards across a circuit-high twelve MUN conferences. This is consistent with the team’s strategy of going to as many conferences as possible. It also makes them the highest ranked team among four Top 25 ranked teams from California. 

The team won four delegation awards: Best Large at LAMUN, Outstanding Large at TrojanMUN, Outstanding Small at UNCMUNC, and Outstanding Small at CIAC. They also had strong performances at HNMUN, McMUN, ChoMUN, NCSC, and other conferences. Berkeley hosted UCBMUN, which was the highest weighted conference on the West Coast this year. 

  1. Claremont McKenna College

clairmont

Claremont McKenna is in the top five for three of the past four years, and accomplished that this year by taking home the fifth most individual awards across eleven conferences despite primarily competing as a small delegation. 

The team tended to do best at the mid-sized conferences. Their delegation awards included five Best Smalls at NCSC, BarMUN, LAMUN, SBIMUN, and UPMUNC, as well as an Outstanding Small at UCBMUN and second in weighted score at TrojanMUN. They also performed well at HNMUN. 

From the team: This past year, CMCMUN has truly embraced the challenge of redefining its team character and its place on the circuit. In a season punctuated by the need to regrow our small team of 30, many of our successes would not have been possible without the 13 amazing new recruits we warmly welcomed onto our team. From earning delegation awards at 6 North American conferences to reprising our place as the Best Small Delegation at Harvard WorldMUN thanks to WorldMUN Head Delegate Olivia Fish, our season represents the culmination of a vibrant team culture and diligent work ethic. Although we primarily compete as a small team, our desire to build community and lead with empathy is anything but. Our team’s connectedness shines through in conference prep sessions and team debriefs, joint mergers and arc brainstorming, as well as games of fishbowl and post-closing brunches—proving that CMC delegates truly believe that team comes first. We are grateful to the Executive Board under the leadership of outgoing President Jon Joey “JJ” Telebrico and Vice President Nicole Jonassen who have worked tirelessly to enact their vision for the team and contribute to its legacy. We are so excited to see what the future of CMCMUN holds.

  1. Florida International University

FIU

FIU won the third most individual awards after attending a circuit-high twelve conferences, and continues to be the highest ranked team among four Top 25 teams from Florida. FIU has now been a Top 10 team for twelve consecutive years. 

The team came in third in weighted score among North American teams at HNMUN and did well at competitive conferences such as ChoMUN, NCSC, and BarMUN. It captured a pair of Outstanding Small Delegation awards at McMUN and TrojanMUN. 

From the team: FIU Model UN has always built itself upon the pillars of diplomacy, adaptability, and our distinct Panther Culture that left impacts throughout every conference we attended this year. This was a team that consisted of a diverse set of delegates and ages, from our hotshot freshman who became regulars of the collegiate circuit, or our hardworking returners who continued to show why nobody does it like FIU! Our students consistently showed why there is no giving up on this team through their continuous passion for MUN, competition, and overall growth. We are thankful for the moments we bonded this year, whether it was dinners at so many Italian restaurants, long walks from our hotel to the conference hotels, or the entire team in one hotel room just enjoying the moments with each other. Who can forget the outstanding performance of our delegates in each conference like the FIU record of 41 points at this years HNMUN. We could not be more proud. Also, we would like to give special thanks to our 5 Head Delegates who led us through thick and thin this last year, Miguel Weisman, Carmen Ordonez, Marek Kong, Hayley Serpa, and Monica Mata! We cannot wait for this upcoming fall and to see all our MUN panthers back together again. PAWS UP!

  1. University of California, Los Angeles

UCLA

UCLA won four delegation awards across nine conferences. The team did best on the West Coast and received Best Large at UCBMUN, Best Large at TrojanMUN, and Outstanding Small at SBIMUN. They also won Best Small at CONMUN and did well at McMUN and NCSC. UCLA also hosted LAMUN. The team has consistently ranked between #6 and #11 over the past eight years. 

From the team: With the unwavering support of our returning members and the infectious energy of our new members, MUN at UCLA’s travel team had a successful and memorable year competing on the circuit. While the four delegation awards and numerous individual awards are a tangible marker of our accomplishments, the true measurement of our season is the growth of our members, new and old, as competitors and people. This year, we were able to take our largest teams on record to conferences on both coasts, finding new ways to spend time as a team by turning hotel rooms and conference spaces into UCLA karaoke suites. As UCLA’s graduating head dels, we are so proud of this team for their constant dedication. Thank you for trusting us, we hope you made as many memories as there are nicely shaped clouds. Training you all on presence, relevancy, branding, and remembering your carry-on has been an absolute privilege. We know that the incredible community of this team, at UCLA and on the circuit, is in great hands with next year’s head dels. Roses are red, violets are blue, it’s not the onions making us cry, it’s the fact that we’re leaving you.  

  1. Florida State University
florida state

Florida State won five delegation awards across ten conferences. The team racked up a lot of awards at mid-sized and smaller conferences in the South: Best Large at UNCMUNC, Outstanding Large at VICS, Best Large at &MUN, Best Large at MUNE, and Best Large at AIRMUNC. They also did well at ChoMUN and NCSC. FSU hosted NoleMUN as the Southern circuit continued to expand. The team has ranked #8 in three of the past five years. 

From the team: This year the Florida State University World Affairs Program saw massive success both on campus and across the country. Our family has grown, and our new member class of this year was one of the largest and most competitively successful the program has seen in recent history. Throughout the academic year, the World Affairs Program traveled to nine cities from coast to coast, and hosted the second iteration of NoleMUN, our ranked collegiate conference in Tallahassee, FL. Delegates from the World Affairs Program won sixty-three individual awards, and took home five delegation awards on behalf of Florida State University. All of this was accomplished through hard work and dedication by our delegates, and under the tireless and capable leadership of our outgoing Director, Ryan Villacorta, whose vision, drive, and love of the Model UN circuit set us up for continued success in the year to come under the newly inaugurated Director Bailey Vandewalle. 

  1. Concordia University

Concordia continues its rapid rise in the rankings and has achieved its highest rank ever by breaking into the Top 10. Their big win comes from placing third in weighted score at McMUN to help them become the top team in Canada. This is complemented with a Best Large at NAMUN, a Best Large at NYUMUNC, an Outstanding Large at CIAC, and other awards across seven conferences. Concordia hosted CONMUN to provide Canadian teams more opportunities. 

  1. Boston University

BU

BU primarily competed as a small delegation and won four delegation awards across nine conferences. This included Outstanding Small at ChoMUN, Best Small at VICS, and Best Small at CMUNNY. However, their biggest win was receiving Best Large at McMUN. This is their third straight year in the Top 10, which constitutes their most successful run ever. BU also hosted BarMUN, which has distinguished itself from other mid-sized conferences to become the fifth highest weighted conference on the circuit. 

From the team: The Boston University Model United Nations Team achieved new levels of success in the 2022-23 year. One may ask, what can this impeccable team attribute their success to…intense training, grueling simulations, hardcore blocking practice? While yes, all of those things definitely make for an excellent team, the real secret ingredient was our team’s family-like bond. The MUN@BU team mixed MUN and FUN with activities such as “MUN-Hunt”, “MUN-Chella”, and the creation of new traditions like taking a dip in the CHO-tel pool. Fostering a collaborative environment, our team prioritized mentorship and the passing down of MUN strategies, while also making it a goal to foster a welcoming environment and travel with new members. The excellent leadership, friendship, and unmatched strength of character of this year’s Head Delegates, Sydney Steger and Charles Moore are undeniably the reason our team succeeded this year. We are so thankful for all the sleepless nights they have dedicated to the team this year and to Charlie and Sydney: whether or not at BU, we know you will do great things!

  1. University of Florida

florida

Florida achieved its highest rank ever by winning five delegation awards across nine conferences. The team did well across a mix of national and Southern conferences. It notably won Best Small at McMUN and Outstanding Small at NCSC. It also won Outstanding Large at UNCMUNC, Outstanding Small at &MUN, Outstanding Large at NoleMUN, and had the highest weighted score at MUNE. UF also hosted the inaugural SUNMUN as the Southern circuit continued to expand. 

From the team: The University of Florida’s Model United Nations team is proud of its most successful year yet. To a spectacular graduating class that paved the way for our current success: Thank you for the grueling hours and years off your life the energy drinks will take. Austin, Nick, Mikaya, Hansell, Archer, Pat, you are going to be missed. While our team faced financial, personal, and professional hardships, we are proud to say that In all kinds of weather …We’ll all stick together for … F-L-O-R-I-D-A. Across North America, UF has made friends, written fire (and ice) clauses, and had so much fun doing it. To every staffer for our high school conference GatorMUN to every friends-cousins-roommate on a trip to the springs, thank you for making your impact. After what feels like hundreds of hours of head del feedbacks, 9 travel conferences, 4 hosted conferences, 17 flights, 34 nights sleeping in airbnbs and hotels, and 68 unique delegates, this year has been an all out success. It’s great to be a Florida gator, and we at UFMUN are eager to share that greatness with the collegiate circuit as we reintroduce our college conference, SunMUN in the coming year in a new location- ORLANDO! Whether it be in committee or at our conference, the delegates of UFMUN look forward to seeing our friends on the circuit for another year of debate and diplomacy. 

  1. McGill University

McGill

McGill is impressively back in the Top 15 of the rankings despite not even making the Top 100 last year due to COVID-related travel restrictions. The team had the fourth highest weighted score among North American teams at HNMUN and did well at conferences such as ChoMUN, NCSC, and UCBMUN. They also won a pair of Outstanding Small delegation awards at BarMUN and CONMUN. McGill hosted McMUN, which has re-established itself as the second highest weighted conference on the circuit. 

From the team: The McGill University Delegation Team is delighted to be honored alongside such incredible delegations, in whom we recognize so many good friends (and a few friendly rivals)! Above all else, we are grateful to be part of this ever inspiring community of globally-minded young people. We travelled to 7 conferences throughout the 2022-2023 year, our highest since the pandemic, and achieved Outstanding Small Delegation finishes at BarMUN and CONMUN. Between simulations, scavenger hunts, and Super Bowl parties, our team has made and will continue to make amazing memories and meaningful bonds that carry us through all the highs and lows of Model UN! We are so proud of all our delegates for their unfailing verve, nerve, and conference fashion serves.

  1. Harvard University

Harvard is the highest ranked team from the Ivy League after winning awards across eight conferences. Their biggest win was ending the year with a Best Large delegation award at ChoMUN. The team also did well at mid-sized conferences such as NCSC, UCBMUN, LAMUN, CMUNNY, and UPMUNC. Harvard hosted HNMUN, which is the highest weighted conference on the circuit. 

  1. The George Washington University

george washington

GW has a history of sending as many delegates to as many conferences as possible, and the team traveled to a circuit-high twelve conferences and took home many individual awards this year. The team had strong performances at competitive conferences such as HNMUN and McMUN. They also did well at BarMUN and VICS, and won Best Small Delegation at NYUMUNC. 

From the team: It was a turbulent year for the delegates of GWMUN: from flight delays to leadership changes, and lots of winning bigly and hugely in between, we are so proud of the team’s effort this year. GWMUN was one of the youngest teams on the circuit, with many conference delegations consisting almost exclusively of underclassmen. However, each and every delegate stepped up to the challenge, proving themselves to be dedicated Model UNers and formidable forces on the circuit in the process. On top of our underclassmen, a special thanks go out to our recently graduated seniors for their wisdom and unhinged antics during conferences. As we set our sights on next year, we are incredibly excited to return to the circuit with a vengeance (and with a new school moniker, go Revolutionaries!). Raise High!  

  1. University of Southern California

USC had a national schedule and received three delegation awards across eight conferences. This included a Best Small at ChoMUN, a Best Large at SBIMUN, and an Outstanding Small at UPMUNC. The team also did well at LAMUN. USC hosted TrojanMUN. 

  1. United States Military Academy at West Point

West Point continues to rise back up the rankings after its pandemic-era hiatus. In the spirit of spreading military and civilian engagement, West Point attended ten conferences across the USA and Canada. The team stood out in Canada, winning a Best Large at NAMUN and doing well at McMUN. 

  1. Emory University

emory

Emory is back in the Final Top 25 after a two-year rebuild from the pandemic. The team prioritized attending mid-sized conferences and did well at ChoMUN and NCSC among the nine conferences where it won individual awards. The team also received an Outstanding Large at SUNMUN. Emory hosted MUNE as the Southern circuit continued to expand. 

From the team: There is one word that defines this Emory Model UN team: grit. After club membership fell during the pandemic, EIRA’s ranking dropped from an all time high to an all time low. However, this team refused to give in, and has earned its meteoric rise back to the top 25 with ruthless determination and an unbreakable team bond. This year marks our very first fall MUNE, and we are excited to see you all in Atlanta on September 28th. Emory’s motto is “The Wise Heart Seeks Knowledge” but just like our team strategy, we made some major upgrades. From this day on, “The Wise Heart Seeks Gavels.” Go Eagles, go EIRA, and we’ll see you on the circuit!

  1. University of Georgia

Georgia is back in the Top 25 for the second time ever. As a relatively newer team on the circuit, UGA focused on pursuing a Southern strategy and won a pair of Best Large Delegation awards at neighboring NoleMUN and SUNMUN. The team is also planning on launching a DawgMUN conference as the Southern circuit continues to expand. 

  1. University of Miami

Miami has consistently pursued a competitive conference strategy over the years. The team had strong individual award performances across HNMUN, ChoMUN, and NCSC to be ranked within the Top 20 despite attending only five conferences. 

  1. New York University

NYU

NYU is back in the Top 25 for the first time since the 2018-2019 season. The team focused primarily on East Coast conferences and did best closer to home with a Best Large at CIAC and an Outstanding Small at CMUNNY. NYU also hosted NYUMUNC.

From the team: NYU’s Travel Team was thrilled to be back on the fully in-person circuit this year after an era of Zoom conferences, and our delegates were thrilled to enter the Top 15 in the Fall following our comeback. NYU’s beloved TT members had a blast running EmpireMUNC, and finished the semester off as Best Large Delegation at CIAC. In the spring, we celebrated a hugely successful NYUMUNC, and visited Chicago and Los Angeles, taking awards from both CHOMUN and LAMUN back to NYC. The team said a bittersweet goodbye to its President, Christopher Giron, and Head Delegate, Eric Liu, Class of ’23, our Stern heroes! Ultimately, the year served as a reminder to NYU that the team is both a community and a home to its delegates. Together, we fostered commitment, passion, and kindness. NYU cannot wait to continue its upwards trajectory next season. Go Violets!

  1. University of Virginia

Virginia won many individual awards across five conferences. Its best performances were at UNCMUNC and &MUN, and overall had more awards to place above William & Mary. UVA also hosted VICS. 

  1. The College of William & Mary

William & Mary also won many individual awards across five conferences. The team contended for a delegation award at McMUN and also did well at VICS. William & Mary hosted &MUN. 

  1. University of Pennsylvania

UPenn is starting to re-establish itself as a Top 25 team, and their rank is a result of a strong second half of the year. The team won awards at competitive conferences such as HNMUN and ChoMUN, and received an Outstanding Small at VICS. UPenn hosted a rebuilding UPMUNC. 

  1. Indiana University

Indiana is back in the Top 25 for the first time since the 2019-2020 season. They are the highest ranked team from the Big Ten after winning awards across five conferences. Its best performance was at McMUN. 

  1. Yale University

Yale is back in the Top 25 after barely missing it last year. They only attended two conferences – the fewest among Top 25 ranked teams – but their ranking was buoyed by finishing third in weighted score among North American teams at HNMUN.

TOP 50 (ALPHABETICAL ORDER)

The five closest teams to making it into the Top 25 were: Pomona, Clark, Cincinnati, Virginia Tech, and Johns Hopkins.

Clark University
Dawson College
Duke University
Fordham University
The Johns Hopkins University
Michigan State University
Northeastern University
The Ohio State University
Pomona College
Princeton University
Queen’s University
Rice University
Seton Hall University
Tufts University
United States Air Force Academy
University of Alabama
University of California, Davis
University of California, Santa Barbara
University of Cincinnati
University of Maryland
University of Michigan
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
University of Rochester
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Virginia Tech

TOP 75 (ALPHABETICAL ORDER)

Binghamton University
Case Western Reserve University
Champlain College (Vermont)
Champlain College St-Lambert
Colgate University
Columbia University
Elon University
Georgia Institute of Technology
Hofstra University
Marianopolis College
Northwestern University
Rutgers University
Stanford University
Tulane University
University of Central Florida
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of Notre Dame
University of Pittsburgh
University of Toronto
Vanderbilt University
Vanier College
Victor Valley College
Western University
York University

TOP 100 (ALPHABETICAL ORDER)

Bard College
Carleton College
Carleton University
Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf
Gettysburg College
Irvine Valley College
John Abbott College
Kalamazoo College
Loyola University Chicago
Monmouth University
Mount Holyoke College
North Carolina State University
Northern Virginia Community College
Saint Louis University
Saint Michael’s College
State University of New York, Geneseo
Suffolk University
Toronto Metropolitan University
University of Calgary
University of California, San Diego
University of New Mexico
University of Richmond
University of Wisconsin – Madison
Virginia Commonwealth University
Wilfrid Laurier University

Congratulations to all the teams and conferences!

Fall 2022 North American College Model UN Rankings (through McMUN)

There are many definitions of success in Model UN, and awards are only one extrinsic way of measuring success. Nevertheless, awards 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.

Every year, the College MUN rankings celebrate the MUN teams that showed immense resilience by not only enduring despite the year’s challenges, but also succeeding at the highest level possible in collegiate Model UN.

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 since 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 ranking. Awards data were provided by the conferences, and we could only use conferences that chose to provide data. We did our best to reach out to all conferences.

The Fall conference weighted tiers are as follows:

McMUN
NCSC
BarMUN, UNCMUNC
UPMUNC, TrojanMUN
SBIMUN, CIAC, CMUNNY
SUNMUN, AIRMUNC

Awards Data is through McMUN. Due to the rebalancing of conference schedules, it made more sense to roughly divide the season’s worth of weighted points after McMUN than before it. This also enabled our team time to gather all the awards data. 

Credits:

Thank you to all the conferences for submitting their awards data, and to the various teams reaching out with interest in seeing this article published. 

American University

Top 25 Teams

  1. American University

American is once again the #1 ranked team on the circuit and it wasn’t even close. The team put on a performance worthy of a top-ranked powerhouse and received the most individual awards, the most gavels, and the most delegation awards. They won Outstanding Large at McMUN (first place in weighted score; lost by ratio), Best Large at NCSC, Best Large at BarMUN, Best Small at UNCMUNC, and Best Large at CMUNNY. 

  1. Georgetown University

Georgetown received the 2nd most individual awards on the circuit so far. Their best performance was once again at McMUN, where they placed second in weighted score. They also received Outstanding Large at BarMUN and Best Large at UPMUNC. Georgetown hosted NCSC in the Fall. 

  1. University of California, Berkeley

Berkeley’s strategy to attend a circuit-high seven conferences across the country in the Fall helped it yield the four most individual awards. This also included an Outstanding Large at TrojanMUN, an Outstanding Small at UNCMUNC, and an Outstanding Small at CIAC. They host UCBMUN in the Spring. 

  1. University of Chicago

UChicago tied with Georgetown for the second most individual awards in the Fall, and had the second most gavels. The team’s delegation awards included Outstanding Large at NCSC, Outstanding Large at UPMUNC, and Best Small at TrojanMUN. They host ChoMUN in the Spring. 

  1. Claremont McKenna College

Claremont McKenna is focusing on being the best small team on the circuit this year, and has four Best Small Delegation awards to prove it. Those came from NCSC, BarMUN, UPMUNC, and SBIMUN. The team also placed second at TrojanMUN. 

  1. University of California, Los Angeles

UCLA wins delegation awards close to home and does well on the road. They won Best Large at TrojanMUN and Outstanding Small at SBIMUN. They won awards at the three most competitive conferences (McMUN, NCSC, and BarMUN), and did best with a 4th place finish at NCSC. They host LAMUN in the Spring. 

  1. Florida International University

FIU has a pair of Outstanding Small Delegation awards from McMUN and TrojanMUN. The team consistently competed for delegation awards across many other conferences, including NCSC, BarMUN, and UPMUNC. 

  1. Boston University

Boston University’s biggest win was definitely winning Best Large Delegation at McMUN, the highest weighted conference in the Fall rankings. The team also won Best Small at CMUNNY, and competed well at three other conferences. They hosted BarMUN in the Fall. 

  1. Concordia University

Concordia is the top team from Canada after placing 3rd overall at McMUN and showing that it could contend for a delegation award against the best teams on the circuit. They also won Outstanding Large at CIAC. They host CONMUN in the Spring. 

  1. Florida State University

Florida State did best at the southeastern conferences this Fall and won a pair of Best Large Delegation awards at UNCMUNC and at AIRMUNC. They also did well at NCSC. 

  1. The George Washington University

George Washington’s strategy was also to attend a circuit-high seven conferences in the Fall, and their ranking is due to the team winning individual awards at many conferences.  

  1. University of Florida

Florida is on the rise after re-entering the Top 25 last year. They had a strong Fall that included Best Small at McMUN, Outstanding Small at NCSC, and Outstanding Large at UNCMUNC. They also hosted their inaugural SUNMUN conference. 

  1. United States Military Academy at West Point

West Point is active on the circuit again and quickly regaining its place as one of the best teams in the nation. The team won awards across five conferences in the Fall and barely missed out on a small delegation award at NCSC. 

  1. Harvard University

Harvard consistently contended for delegation awards with strong performances at NCSC, UPMUNC, and CMUNNY among other conferences. It hosted HNMUN in the Spring, which will be included in the Final Rankings. 

  1. New York University

NYU is also back in the Top 15 of the rankings. NYU did best closer to home and won Best Large at CIAC and Outstanding Large at CMUNNY. They will host NYUMUNC in the Spring. 

  1. University of Southern California

USC had a bi-coastal win that included the Best Large at SBIMUN and an Outstanding Small at UPMUNC. They hosted TrojanMUN in the Fall. 

  1. Emory University

Emory was at the doorstep of the Top 25 last year, and re-entered this Fall based on a solid performance at NCSC and an Outstanding Large at SUNMUN. They host MUNE in the Spring. 

  1. University of Virginia

Virginia’s ranking is primarily due to having the highest weighted score at UNCMUNC despite missing out on a delegation award there. They will host VICS in the Spring. 

  1. The College of William & Mary

William & Mary did well across McMUN, NCSC, and CMUNNY. They will host &MUN in the Spring. 

  1. University of Miami

Miami stays in the Top 25 after consistently receiving awards at NCSC, BarMUN, UPMUNC. 

  1. Indiana University

Indiana returns to the rankings after receiving awards at McMUN, NCSC, and UPMUNC. 

  1. University of Georgia

Georgia is back in the rankings after winning Best Large Delegation at the inaugural SUNMUN. 

  1. McGill University

McGill’s best performance in the Fall was winning Outstanding Small Delegation at BarMUN. They also hosted a large in-person McMUN again, which received positive feedback and is the highest weighted conference in the Fall rankings. 

  1. Clark University

Clark won Best Small Delegation at CIAC and individual awards at four other conferences. 

  1. Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech breaks into the Top 25 rankings for the first time ever with awards from three conferences. 

**

Top 50 (alphabetical order):

The next five closest teams were: Cincinnati, Seton Hall, Tennessee, Northwestern, and Princeton.

Case Western Reserve University
Colgate University
Columbia University
Duke University
Fordham University
Johns Hopkins University
Michigan State University
Northeastern University
Northwestern University
The Ohio State University
Pomona College
Princeton University
Queen’s University
Seton Hall University
Tufts University
United States Air Force Academy
University of California, Davis
University of California, Santa Barbara
University of Cincinnati
University of Michigan
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
University of Pittsburgh
University of Tennessee
Vanderbilt University
Western University

**

Top 75 (alphabetical order):

Carleton University
Champlain College
Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf
Colorado College
Elon University
Monmouth University
Mount Holyoke College
North Carolina State University
Northern Virginia Community College
Saint Michael’s College
Stanford University
State University of New York, Geneseo
Tulane University
University of Calgary
University of California, San Diego
University of Central Florida
University of Maryland
University of New Mexico
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
University of Notre Dame
University of Richmond
University of Rochester
Victor Valley College
Virginia Commonwealth University
Yale University

**

Congratulations to all the teams! Good luck with the Spring conferences! We’ll aim to get the rankings out sooner as well if we can get all the data in time! 

PACMUN 2022 Recap 

PACMUN

Pacific Model United Nations (PACMUN) is the largest Model UN conference in Washington State, welcoming hundreds of delegates annually from across the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 2014 by a group of local high school students looking to establish an overnight, student-run MUN conference in the Greater Seattle Area, PACMUN marked its 9th annual event this past November at the Sheraton Grand Seattle.

PACMUN is a student-led initiative run by Model United Nations Northwest (MUN Northwest), a nonprofit organization that seeks to empower student leaders through diplomacy, debate, and leadership. Our Secretariat team is responsible for hiring and directing over 70 staff members, managing the conference’s finances, conducting outreach, and planning events for delegates throughout the conference. PACMUN’s staff and Secretariat members are all high school students skilled in creating complex background guides for delegates and guiding their committee through 2 full days of debate.

This year, PACMUN’s staff team created 20 well-designed committees, covering a range of both conventional as well as specialized and crisis committees, from the League of Arab Nations to the International Press Corps. Delegates were able to discuss many relevant issues, including combatting international trade of illicit goods and addressing the United States debt crisis. They came to the conference well-prepared, with solutions to current and future world issues, which were incorporated into creative and thoughtful resolutions.

PACMUN values the contributions of the local leaders who serve as keynote speakers at the conference and fosters a sense of community through their participation. This year, PACMUN hosted two keynote speakers, Deaunte Damper and Dr. Lynne Robinson. Deaunte Damper is an activist and the Co-Chair of the Washington Therapy Fund, who has worked to uplift the voices of marginalized groups and advocate for equal access to education. Dr. Lynne Robinson is the Mayor of Bellevue, Washington, and has extensive experience in public service and leadership, including participating in Model UN during high school. Both speakers shared their stories and insights on leadership and diplomacy, providing valuable lessons and inspiration to the delegates.

PACMUN 2022 welcomed over 600 delegates from over 30 delegations based in Washington, California, Idaho, and Canada. In our continual commitment to increasing the financial accessibility of our event, PACMUN was able to meet every request for financial aid in its entirety. This would not have been possible without the support of our generous sponsors: the Bainbridge Community Foundation, the Henry M. Jackson Foundation, the Kent Community Foundation, and Cognito Forms. Throughout the year, we also partnered with Mod Pizza and Panda Express for several fundraisers in our local community.

MUN Northwest organizes four conferences annually, including two spring conferences: King County Model United Nations (KINGMUN) and Seattle Model United Nations (SeattleMUN). SeattleMUN will be held on February 25, 2023, while KINGMUN will take place later that spring. These conferences provide opportunities for beginner delegates to participate in smaller committees while also introducing new and experimental topics to the circuit. MUN Northwest also hosts Educational Model United Nations (EDUMUN), a day-long conference emphasizing skills training through beginner and advanced seminar-style sessions and a culminating capstone, every October. Providing a variety of events throughout the year in which local students can connect, collaborate, and develop solutions to pressing issues is an essential part of MUN Northwest’s efforts to promote global citizenship and leadership among young people.

Thank you so much to our Secretariat and staff teams, as well as our MUN Northwest volunteers who gave their time to support this year’s conference. We hope to see you all at PACMUN 2023!

NAIMUN LX

Our names are Cate Howell and Rachel Klein and we currently serve as the Executive Director and Secretary-General of the sixtieth North American Invitational Model United Nations. This is NAIMUN’s diamond jubilee anniversary, and we are honored to build on a 60 year legacy in promoting youth education in international relations, and inspiring, educating, and empowering future leaders in international affairs. NAIMUN LX is approaching quickly, and before conference weekend arrives, we’re here to share some personal reflections on our tenures as NAIMUN LX co-executives, but also our experiences in high school Model UN more generally.

Cate

NAIMUN is the largest student-run high school Model UN conference in the world and it is the flagship conference run by Georgetown University students. I had briefly competed in Model UN in high school but the conferences my school attended were very small, local conferences run by the local YMCA. Attending a conference run by a university was a foreign concept to me, let alone traveling out-of-state for a Model UN conference. However, confused, lil freshman-year me signed up to staff, completely unaware of how this conference would change my life. Despite staffing the only virtual iteration of NAIMUN (because of the COVID-19 pandemic), I was amazed by the dedication, brilliance, and enthusiasm of the 3,000 high school delegates that attended. When applications for the Secretariat opened for the next NAIMUN, I immediately knew I had to apply. 

 

During my tenure on the Secretariat for NAIMUN LIX, I served as the Director of Philanthropy. Philanthropy is unique to NAIMUN, as we serve as one of the largest philanthropic drives on the Model UN circuit. I was honored to raise $18,000 for our philanthropy partner, Relief Without Borders, both in-conference and through our philanthropy coalition. 

NAIMUN LVIII introduced the Circuit Philanthropy Coalition to the Model UN circuit. The coalition was the brainchild of my predecessor, Ashley Bradway, and its goal was to unite the circuit during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since all conferences were online because of the pandemic, we knew our philanthropic impact could be maximized if we worked together to raise money for a common cause. I continued the Circuit Philanthropy Coalition during my tenure as Director of Philanthropy and now, as the NAIMUN LX Executive Director, I am excited to continue it again for its third year. NAIMUN, at its core, is an educational experience. We strive to teach delegates about all the ways you can make an impact as a young leader, whether that is through diplomacy, collaboration, or empathy. One valuable way to make an impact is through philanthropy, hence why we place such an importance on our philanthropic drives. 

Rachel

While I now serve as Secretary-General of the largest student-run conference in the world, I originally joined my high school Model UN team on a whim with no real understanding of what Model UN entailed, or more generally that international relations was a field of study and work. In my four years competing, Model UN committees were some of my most intellectually stimulating and confidence-building experiences—I did not quite know who the people who sat on the stage at opening ceremonies were or what they did, but I knew I wanted to be one of them one day and recreate the experiences that changed the trajectory of my life for other high schoolers. As Secretary-General my principal role in creating and executing our substantive vision for our conference. With 40 distinct and dynamic committees, I have worked to meld the topical interests of 70 Chairs and Crisis Managers, with the regional and temporal interests of my 12 Under-Secretaries-General with my overarching vision for a rigorous and innovative educational experience. 

All of these elements are encapsulated in a theme that draws heavily from my personal experiences at Model UN conferences, my outlook on what it means to be thoughtfully engaged in international affairs and participatory in a community, and the kinds of lessons I hope NAIMUN delegates leave with at the end of the weekend. Empathy in Action, our theme for this iteration of NAIMUN, expands upon and more clearly articulates what I mean when I say that NAIMUN is about “more than Model UN.” As Secretary-General, my mission is not to teach delegates simply what to think about the United Nations, but rather to teach delegates critical thinking, narrative challenging, and question asking skills in order to meaningfully interrogate all aspects of the international system, guided by a central commitment to promoting a more just, equitable, and prosperous world. International affairs is not value neutral, and neither are the systems of both material and immaterial power it involves. What binds communities together is a shared commitment to interests, goals, and values—at NAIMUN these are not left at the door but welcomed into conversations that include diverse sets of actors not just within the UN, but within the entirety of the global community. NAIMUN is committed to teaching delegates how to nurture compassionate, empathic, and actionable diplomacy, and this mission does not, and cannot, stop at the United Nations system.

Ultimately, I am incredibly energized by the passion of our delegates, their curiosity about committees and their topics, and their eagerness to learn more to become better speakers, writers, negotiators, and diplomats. My predecessor, Kate Reeves, introduced the NAIMUN Training and Immersion Program (NAIMUN TIPs) and this year I developed eight weeks of original Model UN teaching material. In the 80 sessions my Secretariat has hosted, we’ve worked with hundreds of delegates and I am more confident than ever in the value of not only high quality Model UN training, but accessible education. I’ll be developing a set of resources for delegates that will go live on the website Wednesday night before conference begins as a condensed “here’s what you really need to know” version of the trainings so delegates can put their best foot forward and make the most of what I hope is an enriching and rewarding weekend. When I gavel in NAIMUN LX Thursday night, I’ll be honored to stand aside Cate as we kick off a weekend of dynamic committees, exciting D.C. experiences, and philanthropic impact.