Record-breaking Student Participation Highlights 21st Annual Model United Nations Competition
The International Institute of Buffalo hosted its most successful Model United Nations competition in its 21 years of sponsoring the event.
This year’s gathering beat last year’s competition as the largest ever, welcoming 789 students from 46 area high schools. The delegates represented 84 countries. Last year, 732 students represented 73 nations.
The students gathered at Knox Hall, North Campus, SUNY Buffalo.
“Students taking on the role of UN diplomats broaden their knowledge of world events and international politics, said Jennifer Rizzo-Choi, executive director of the International Institute of Buffalo. “More importantly, in preparation for this event, they learn public speaking skills, conflict resolution, and build self-confidence.”
Model UN allows students to experience a day in the life of UN diplomats and has had a strong and positive impact on the youth of Western New York. Student delegates prepared, debated, amended, and voted on resolutions, resolved conflicts, created alliances, and ultimately followed the actual UN General Assembly procedures. Student delegates take months to prepare for their diplomatic roles.
To effectively demonstrate their diplomatic roles, students researched their country to sustain authentic representation at the Assembly. Through their participation, they learned how the international community addresses today’s concerns, such as peace and security, economic development, human rights, food and hunger, and globalization.
At the closing ceremonies, awards were presented to the best resolution, the top delegation in each committee, and the top 10 delegations overall. congratulations to this year’s winners:
- Best Resolution: The Gambia-Rohingya Refugees submitted by International Preparatory High School, Ad Hoc SCH Comittee
- School Submitting the Most Selected Resolution: City Honors
Delegation Winners
- Best Delegation Overall: Kenmore East (Spain)
- Second Place Overall: Williamsville East (China)
- Third Place Overall: City Honors (Sweden)
- Special Merit (4): Italy (City Honors)
- Special Merit (5): Williamsville North (Portugal)
- Special Merit (6) Saint Joseph’s Collegiate Institute (Egypt)
- Special Merit (7): Kenmore West (Finland)
- Special Merit (8): Brockport (Iceland)
- Special Merit (9): Williamsville East (Ghana)
- Special Merit (10): Lancaster (Turkey)
- Best in Committee/ Economic and Finance: Kenmore East (Spain)
- Best in Committee/ Social, Cultural, and Humanitarian: Kenmore West (Finland)
- Best in Committee/ Ad Hoc Social, Cultural, and Humanitarian: Saint Joseph’s Collegiate Institute (Egypt)
- Best in Committee/ Special Political: Kenmore East (Spain)
- Best in Committee/ Ad Hoc Special Political: Williamsville East (China)
- Best in Committee/ Political and Security: Kenmore East (Spain)
- Best in Committee/ Ad Hoc Political and Security: Williamsville East (China)
This year’s keynote speaker was Dr. Kristin Stapleton, Professor and Chair of the University at Buffalo History Department.