GTMUN Liveblog!

If you want an example of a solid Model UN conference, look no further than Georgia Tech’s GTMUN. From the well-trained staff and top-notch facilities to the engaging level of debate and healthy competition, this conference is what Model UN delegates should look forward to near the beginning of the season. In fact, one advisor who had attended about 100 conferences in his career mentioned that this was one of the best staffs he has ever seen!

Roughly 600 delegates from throughout the southeastern United States attended this year’s conference. Florida powerhouse Port Charlotte High School took home Outstanding Delegation and extended their dominance over the George P. Burdell Cup – the top award given to the school that best represents their country – for the tenth straight year. Florida rival Gulf Coast High School also won an Outstanding Delegation award.

But with all the innovative usage of technology and strong institutional support at this conference, the real winners are all the delegates. Take a look below at what GTMUN is doing and how delegates have enjoyed their experiences and I think you’ll be as impressed as I was!

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I first got to interview Secretary-General Kelsie Riemenschneider on the importance of institutional support from the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs and the advice she has for other conferences looking to do the same. Kelsie also spoke on the conference’s emphasis on accurate country representation and how Model UN has helped her as a biomedical engineering major:

Conference staffers have command over many technological tools that help make the committee experience dynamic. NATO directors Lisa Palazzolo and Alli McCall give us a tour from the dais:

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Let’s hear about some of the other interesting highlights from the conference as well as what delegates had to say about their experience:

Eric, a delegate representing Sweden from Centennial High School in Georgia, describes his unique “recruitment” into their Model UN team:

We always wonder what crises delegates are challenged with in the Security Council at every conference. Alex and Graham from North Cobb High School in Georgia represented Bosnia-Herzegovina and describe the crisis of a nuclear weapons-ambitious Venezuela:

Larry, the delegate of Libya in GA4 SPECPOL and a Best Delegate reader from Port Charlotte High School in Florida, shares one of the strategies he uses:

This conference does a great job in preparing their directors to motivate newer delegates to participate and then provide positive encouragement after they do so. GA4 directors Sarah Grace Parr and Lauren O’Donnell explain how:

In fact, first-time delegate Esther from Rabun Gap Nacoochee School in Georgia was in GA4 and tells us about all the skills she has learned from this conference. She’s also a future Best Delegate reader:

While I was in GA4, I also got to catch up with resolution sponsors Canada (Steven) and Sweden (Anna) on their proposals to address atomic radiation. Sweden would eventually win Best Delegate in this committee:

Alex and Simon won Best Delegate in the General Assembly Plenary and then pulled a huge shocker when it was revealed that the British accent Simon used during the entire conference was actually fake (it might have broken a few girls’ hearts):

And we’ll wrap it up with an interview with the GA1 DISEC Director, Hannah Olliff, who talks about her experience directing committee at GTMUN and what she is looking forward to when she chairs NHSMUN in March.

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Thanks again to Kelsie, Emilio, and Laura for having me at GTMUN! Congrats to all the GTMUN staff for running a great conference!

Did you attend GTMUN? Let us know what you think of the conference in the comments!