On Friday, January 24, eighteen students traveled to New Haven, Connecticut, to attend the 51st Yale Model United Nations (YMUN).
Over 1,800 high school students from 28 different countries participated in the conference. Over the course of four days, delegates discussed pressing global issues in committees inspired by real U.N. bodies. Committee topics ranged from the financial crisis in Argentina to sustaining population growth amidst a global water crisis.
The delegates worked with other students to propose resolutions to both real-life and fictional scenarios relating to their assigned countries. Students also attended lectures by Yale faculty, visited arts showcases, and toured the campus.
“With the school being the best overall team last year, expectations were high going into this year’s conference” said Agnes DeSouza ’28, a member of this year’s delegation. Vanessa Guerra ’25 won best delegate, Jeffrey Lin ’25, Isabella Deng ’27, and Emma Liu ’26 all won outstanding delegate.
Head Coach Mr. David Conti said, “This conference’s focus was to ensure students from all grade levels gained Model UN experience.
There were more novice students this year than past years, which allows us to build a more experienced team for next year.”
Outside of the committee rooms, students bonded with teammates and student delegates from other schools.
Teagan O’Connell ’28, a first-time delegate, said, “The wide variety of grades and personalities within the school’s team allowed students to form friendships with people they may not have known prior to the trip. My favorite part of the trip was recounting the events of the day in the hotel after a long day of meetings.”
Students interested in attending the 2026 Yale Model United Nations Conference will be able to apply next fall. In addition to Model UN programs, interested students are welcome to engage in the Speech & Debate program.
Mr. Conti said, “Our goals for next year are the same as this year: for students to be prepared, engaged, and at the forefront of the discussions taking place at the conference.”
