This spring, Mentor’s Model United Nations (MUN) team tackled three conferences in the conclusion of a successful season. From addressing pressing international issues to honing public speaking and diplomacy skills, delegates represented our school with dedication in Cleveland and New York.
CLEIMUN
From February 12-14th, 13 delegates attended the Cleveland International Model United Nations conference at St. Edward High School, representing the delegations of Russia, Algeria, and Argentina. The theme for CLEIMUN25 was “The Relationship between Technology and the Development for a Sustainable Future,” meaning delegates, despite being placed in a diverse range of mock U.N. committees, primarily discussed the impact of technology on global affairs, whether that be artificial intelligence, the use of tech in mitigating climate change, or ensuring that there was enough rice to make it through lunch.
CLEIMUN prides itself on its unique conference style, blending elements from the North American and European MUN frameworks. Unlike other conferences, such as CCWA, delegates brought in pre-written resolutions to some of the world’s most pressing topics, utilizing the first day of the conference for lobbying and merging with other delegates. The second day encompassed structured debate and voting processes to pass resolutions, while the entire conference was brought together on the third day for a General Assembly, where a fungus had seemingly infected rice crops in various parts of Asia, therefore leading to a worldwide rice famine. To counteract this utterly disastrous crisis, delegates worked diligently to work together in drafting directives despite other global tensions.
The team upheld their impressive legacy at the conference once again. Mentor’s Russian Delegation took home the conference-wide title of Best Delegation, marking the fifth consecutive year Mentor has won the distinction. As for individual delegate awards, Ayesha Faruki won Best Delegate in the Political Committee, and Reese Layton, Sonja Marich, and Nicholas Payne each won Honorable Mention in the Human Rights Commission, Economic & Environmental Committee, and Security Council, respectively. As a part of CLEIMUN leadership, Mentor MUN co-Secretary Juliana Nichols additionally led the Political Committee as Head Chair.
CCWA Spring
February 25-26th marked when 14 of Mentor’s MUN delegates took a trip to Case Western Reserve University for the Cleveland Council on World Affairs’ (CCWA) Spring Model United Nations conference. The team arrived on time and ready to engage in two days of rigorous debate, diplomacy, and collaboration with students from across the region.
Throughout the conference, delegates represented a range of countries and perspectives, tackling global issues in various committees, such as the African Union, the Food and Agriculture Organization, and the Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural Committee.
NHSMUN
The final MUN conference of the 2024-25 school year was the National High School Model United Nations Conference (NHSMUN). Eight dedicated delegates flew to New York on March 7th for the four-day conference, punctuating the competitive spring Model UN season. As one of the most prestigious MUN conferences in the world, NHSMUN brought together thousands of students from across the globe for four days of high-level debate, diplomacy, and collaboration. For Mentor’s delegates, it was the perfect way to complete a competitive and rewarding spring season.
As one of the two out-of-state conferences Mentor was in attendance at, students also had the opportunity to experience the wonders of New York City, such as Times Square, among other landmarks. For Membership Outreach Coordinator Ellen Freeman, this meant experiencing a scrumptious bowl of pasta.
“The pasta was very good,” Ms. Freeman told Cardinal Nation. “The conference was just okay.”
The End of an Era
For our seniors, these conferences marked when they delivered their final speeches as participants in high school Model United Nations—a milestone marked by both dedication and commitment. For our freshmen, these conferences are the beginning of a career in MUN—and for the rest of us, they’re a couple of conferences in many more to come.
Although the school year is coming to a close, Mentor’s MUN team is currently in the process of planning for their ninth annual crisis conference. MHSMUN IX will take place next October to kick off the MUN season for the 2025-26 school year, bringing together schools from across northeast Ohio for two days of diplomacy, debate, and discourse.
