By Ryan Ryu’25
Immersing themselves in the spirit of “Learn Today, Lead Tomorrow,” Gunn Model UNers took on the formidable challenge of the Yale Model United Nations (MUN) mission, transforming it into a captivating journey of improvement and hope. The preparation for this prestigious conference commenced immediately after winter break with the receipt of committee assignments, offering detailed information about participants’ roleplay, committee names, and delegation names.
In the following weeks, the Highlanders engaged in simulations and dedicated training sessions to grasp the committee sessions’ dynamics, honing their active participation skills in the renowned Yale Model UN 50. The Yale Model United Nations (MUN) is an esteemed conference that brings together students from all over the world to simulate the workings of the United Nations.
This year, the Yale MUN 50 holds particular significance as it marks the 50th edition of this renowned conference. Yale’s four-day international relations simulation brought more than 2000 students – from 200 high schools in 45 countries – to participate in the largest Model UN conference on any Ivy League campus. During the opening ceremony, Gunn students had the privileged opportunity to hear remarks from the Eighth Secretary General of the UN, Ban Ki-Moon, and Yale President Peter Salovey. Highlanders also had the opportunity to attend special lectures organized by Yale professors during the programming day, which served as a one-of-a-kind experience.
Yale expressed the historical significance of YMUN 50. “From our panel of high-profile speakers to the 50 committees in session, YMUN 50 has cemented its place among one of the most successful MUN conferences.” Highlanders showcased their public speaking, lobbying, writing, presenting, and networking skills throughout the conference, with dedication shining through in various activities such as delivering opening speeches, passing notes to different delegations, forming blocs, writing draft resolution papers, and participating in voting on draft resolutions.
Reflecting on his first Model UN conference at Yale, Karl Hammer’25 shared, “It was a great experience. I learned so much during the long hours of deliberation, having met many different people. YaleMUN was an experience that I would participate in again and recommend to anyone who can attend.”
During the closing ceremony, Ryan Ryu’25 was honored with the Best Delegate award in the UNSECTDG of ECOSOC for his outstanding performance throughout the conference. In February, some of the Gunn Model UNers are set to participate in another prestigious conference: the North America Invitational Model United Nations (NAIMUN), hosted by Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. Along with NAIMUN, the illustrious Yale MUN 50 marks a pivotal step towards fostering future active citizenship and leadership for our students at The Frederick Gunn School.
