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.

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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.
 
 
 
 

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