Columbia CMUNCE and its Peter Pan committee were among our favorite conferences and committees to liveblog last year
Best Delegate is ready for the new season to start! We’ll be launching our tour schedule on Monday — check back to see which conferences we’ll be liveblogging this year!
In the meantime, here’s a recap from our tour last year. These were just personal favorite moments from our weekends on the road and we thought we’d share them for fun. We picked out our favorite conferences to liveblog, favorite committees, favorite opening ceremonies, favorite closing ceremonies, and favorite delegate to liveblog for both the high school and college circuits. Find out which ones made the lists below!
High School Circuit
Favorite Conferences to Liveblog
- U. Chicago MUNUC: we produced some of our favorite articles of the entire year at this conference, including a strategy analysis, a committee feature, and the most emotional closing ceremonies ever. Thank you Reece Trevor for having me at the conference!
- Columbia CMUNCE: the friendly Columbia staff led by Rhonda Shafei made sure to to help us capture the most interesting committees and the latest crises. The staff and the delegates also showed their appreciation by giving us roses!
- Nationals NHSMUN: we had a great opportunity organized by Megan Spreitzer at NHSMUN to be part of a lineup of presentations to teachers that included Kiva and the World Bank, and we were able to turn that into a focus group to learn more about how we can help teachers improve Model UN. The conference itself featured all types of committees — the fun, the competitive, and even the one who sang to Admin.
- We also enjoyed being at George Washington WAMUNC and at Seton Hall SHUMUN as both the staff and the delegates at those conferences really appreciated and enjoyed having Best Delegate blogging there. Ryan also got the chance to speak at the opening ceremonies for both conferences (links below).
Favorite Committees
- Columbia CMUNCE – Peter Pan Committee: this fun committee had delegates dressed-up, solve interesting challenges, and even got into a Harry Potter debate. The committee loved having Ryan around, engaged him in some of the activities, and even gave him a rose!
- U. Chicago MUNUC – SOCHUM: this committee addressed a very important issue of getting more women involved in politics. Committees oftentimes have topics that address issues far away from the USA, but this topic is relevant here at home, too.
- George Washington WAMUNC – Age of Imperialism crisis: elaborate costumes and access to the back stages of crisis staff made this joint cabinet crisis simulation interesting to observe.
- Georgetown NAIMUN – UNDP: it’s always nice bumping into old and new fans on the road. UNDP Chair Deven Comen was a recent fan and Director Joan Xie had been one of our earliest fans (probably since 2008).
Favorite Opening Ceremonies
- UNA-USA GCIMUN: I’m not sure anything can top the rock-star feel of having Ban Ki-moon and Susan Rice inspire you while you’re sitting inside the United Nations General Assembly Hall.
- Of course, we also enjoyed delivering keynote speeches at several opening ceremonies. Ryan spoke at George Washington WAMUNC and Seton Hall SHUMUN, and Kevin spoke at Contra Costa CCCMUN.
Favorite Closing Ceremonies
- U. Chicago MUNUC: this is what Model UN is about — rewarding those who have made a difference, reflecting on how it has changed one’s life for the better, and thanking friends who have made the journey memorable — in the most emotional closing ceremonies ever.
- Berkeley BMUN: BMUN’s closing ceremonies has a tradition of committee “rapporteurs” giving speeches about their committees — some were funny, some were emotional, and then there were those who rapped about it.
Favorite Delegate to Liveblog
- Howon Lee, Gunn High School (California): Howon was always seen as a leader in the middle of the action (and oftentimes in a pink shirt). Ryan and I both independently caught him in committee at Contra Costa CCCMUN, Georgetown NAIMUN, and Berkeley BMUN.
College Circuit
Favorite Conferences to Liveblog
- McGill McMUN: Nida Nizam and the entire McMUN team was incredibly hospitable; I essentially felt like I was part of McMUN staff. Interesting committees, access to crisis staff, presenting at their leadership conference, and of course their legendary McParte event (featuring DJ Earworm) made it a fun conference to liveblog. It’s no wonder why delegates love McMUN too.
- West Point WPSC: the conference had a refreshingly professional feel to it including its grand opening ceremonies, presence of a four-star general, disciplined staff, and realistically connected committees. Congrats to George LeMeur and his team on a successful inaugural conference.
- Five College FCMUN: the Five College team was another very hospitable team and was very excited to have Best Delegate visit their conference. It was clear staffers put in the details to run quality committees such as FIFA and Three Kingdoms and that delegates enjoyed the smaller conference. Thanks to Margaret Fitzgerald for inviting me!
Favorite Committees
- Yale SCSY – Paradise Lost: this committee received very positive reviews from delegates and included one of the most epic crisis updates ever and some smart maneuvering by a certain delegate.
- Georgetown NCSC – Chinese Communist Party: this was one of the most authentic assemblies to the simulated last year and included its own opening ceremonies in Chinese, karaoke fundraising contest, and singing of the Chinese national anthem.
- Five College FCMUN – Three Kingdoms: the delegates got really into the debate as the committee was stimulated by a well-thought out board map game and the use of technology.
Favorite Opening Ceremonies
- West Point WPSC: the setting was beautiful, the atmosphere was professional, and the ceremonies were grand. West Point definitely knew how to welcome their delegates in their own unique way.
Favorite Closing Ceremonies
- Harvard HNMUN: we captured the epic celebration where a Yale delegate took off his shirt to reveal another shirt that says “America’s Best Model UN Team” after Yale won Best Large Delegation.
- Yale SCSY: the University of Chicago team proudly does their school chant after winning Best Large Delegation.
Favorite Delegate to Liveblog
- Sara Dejam, Florida State University: Sara stood out as one of the top delegates in the college circuit. Ryan and I both independently caught her in committee at Georgetown NCSC, Berkeley UCBMUN, and Five College FCMUN.
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What were your favorite conferences and favorite moments from last year? We’d love to know!
