MSJ Model United Nations earns Delegation Award of Excellence at National High School MUN conference

By Web Editor Scarlett Huang & Staff Writer Michael Qin

Students packed the lobby of the New York Hilton Midtown in crisp Western attire suits — some confidently, while others nervously clutched their position papers and suitcases — as excited conversations in languages from 70 different countries echoed across the room. For the first time in three years, MSJ Model United Nations (MUN) competed in the National High School Model United Nations (NHSMUN) conference in New York City (NYC) on March 17–21, joining more than 5,000 students at the US’s most prestigious MUN conference. Tasked with representing both historical figures, modern politicians, and sovereign nations alike, competitors at NHSMUN engaged in global conflicts and resolution drafting through five high-stakes committee sessions. 

With guest speakers like Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Former Senator Mitt Romney, NHSMUN’s opening ceremony started the conference with a call to diplomacy. Across the next five days, MSJ MUN’s 14 delegates explored the world of foreign geopolitics, crafting resolutions on global issues like civic access, sustainable development, and environmental protection. Between committee sessions, the group found time to roam the freezing streets of New York, tasting authentic NYC bagels, gazing at the towering buildings on Wall Street, and traversing across the Brooklyn Bridge. 

The final committee sessions descended into a sprint of delegates moving working papers into passed resolutions. Amid the frenzy, MSJ’s double delegations of Junior Keisha Rajanish and Senior Shaurya Verma — representing Cyprus in the Convention on Migratory Species — and Secretary Junior Cham Yu and Co-President Senior Alice Zhao — representing Saudi Arabia in the UN Human Settlements Programme — achieved the Award of Merit in their respective committees, awarded only to the top three delegations in each committee.

In front of a blue backdrop of the NHSMUN logo, the closing ceremony commenced on the final day. Amid deafening ovation from the crowd, Zhao and her committee partner Yu stepped onto the stage to give their plenary speech — a short speech given by one representative of a committee to describe the conference — not just as Saudi Arabia, but MSJ MUN as a whole. “It was a moment where I felt connected to not only our delegation but also our school,” Rajanish said.

Ultimately, the collective efforts of the MSJ delegation resulted in the second-highest form of team recognition: the Delegation Award of Excellence. Amid tears “It felt absolutely wonderful,” Verma said. “Winning something for yourself is always good, but winning something for a school that you represent is even better.”