Another successful Model United Nations Conference is in the books! This year 568 students from 36 Western New York high schools brainstormed, cooperated, and debated their ideas at the yearly competition at the University at Buffalo.
Model UN challenged future leaders to address pressing and complex issues at the heart of global conversations. The event engaged the students, requiring them to write, debate, amend, and vote on committee resolutions that simulate those of the UN General Assembly.
Participants acted as diplomats for the day, learning about national interests and other countries’ foreign policies. They gained a better understanding of global security and economic, humanitarian, and environmental concerns that are critical to the future of our world. This year local schools sent student delegations to study and represent countries from around the world in these seven different committees:
- Political and Security
- Economic and Financial
- Social, Cultural, and Humanitarian
- Special Political
- Ad Hoc Political and Security
- Ad Hoc Political
- Ad Hoc Social, Cultural, and Humanitarian
Current and retired professors, along with Western New York community members served as judges.
Thanks to everyone who participated and congratulations to this year’s award winners:
Best Resolution: Reinforcing UN Protection on Journalist Freedoms (Ad Hoc Political and Security Committee), Mexico, represented by City Honors
- Most Selected Resolutions: Ghana, Denmark, and Chile, represented by Buffalo Academy of Sacred Heart
- Best Delegation Overall: Mexico, represented by Kenmore East
- Second Place Overall: Mexico, represented by City Honors
- Third Place Overall: Netherlands, represented by Williamsville North
- Special Merit (4): Brazil, represented by City Honors
- Special Merit (5): Russian Federation, represented by Alden
- Special Merit (6): Denmark, represented by Buffalo Academy of Sacred Heart
- Special Merit (T7): Chile, represented by Buffalo Academy of Sacred Heart
- Special Merit (T7): Greece, represented by St Joseph’s Collegiate Institute
- Special Merit (7): Sweden, represented by Orchard Park
- Special Merit (10): Canada, represented by Williamsville East
- Best in Committee/Economic and Finance: Mexico, represented by City Honors
- Best in Committee/Social, Cultural, and Humanitarian: Belgium, represented by Kenmore East
- Best in Committee/Ad Hoc Social, Cultural, and Humanitarian: Brazil, represented by City Honors
- Best in Committee/Special Political: Belgium, represented by Kenmore East
- Best in Committee/Special Political: Denmark, represented by Buffalo Academy of Sacred Heart
- Best in Committee/Political and Security: Netherlands, represented by Williamsville North
- Best in Committee/Ad Hoc Political and Security: Belgium, represented by Kenmore East
For more information on this year’s conference, including the global resolutions that the students debated click here.