McKendree University Hosts 15 Local High Schools During Three-Day Model UN Nations Conference
A total of 325 local students participated in this conference.
Lebanon, IL (03/05/2026) — McKendree University hosted its annual Model United Nations conference on campus from March 3-5. Fifteen local high schools and 325 student delegates attended and participated in the conference, representing countries from around the world passing resolutions to address global issues. The university has been hosting its Model UN conference for more than 50 years, making it the fourth-longest running high school Model UN conference in the nation.
Model UN provides students with an opportunity to learn how the UN operates and to practice their public speaking, debate, negotiation and team leadership skills. Participants take on roles as diplomats representing a country, investigating international issues, negotiating with allies and adversaries, and developing solutions to world problems.
Participating high schools include Althoff Catholic High School, Belleville East High School, Belleville West High School, Bunker Hill High School, Christian Brothers College High School, Edwardsville High School, Freeburg High School, Gibault Catholic High School, Highland High School, Lebanon High School, Mascoutah High School, O'Fallon Township High School, Okawville Jr./Sr. High School, Springfield High School, and Triad High School.
Students debated topics ranging from cybersecurity, violence against women, legal uses of military force, fostering climate resilience, safety at nuclear power plants, refugee camp conditions, global vaccination programs, universal healthcare, and reforming peacekeeping missions.
On the final day of the conference, the students addressed a simulated "crisis scenario" in which the U.S.-China rivalry spiraled out of control: both countries left the World Trade Organization and escalated a trade war, the U.S. invaded Greenland, and China invaded Taiwan.
The top three delegate awards went to Triad High School, representing Pakistan; Freeburg High School, representing Panama; and O'Fallon Township High School, representing Russia.
Students winning outstanding delegate awards were the following:
- General Assembly: Isabella Haynes, Triad High School
- Disarmament: Eli Flor, O'Fallon Township High School
- Social, Cultural, and Humanitarian: Josiah Biver, Freeburg High School
- Legal: Morgan Barnett, Triad High School
- Economic and Social: Braden Sexton, Triad High School
- Science and Technology: Peyton Anderson, Triad High School
- Human Rights Council: Liam Greene, Freeburg High School
- World Health Organization: Zachary Rosborg, O'Fallon Township High School
- Security Council: Tyler Rottmann, Highland High School
Other awards include:
- Outstanding Resolution: Hunter Burton, Mascoutah High School
- Outstanding Policy Statement: Aryamun Kalra, Belleville East High School
- Outstanding Position Paper: Claire Totzke, O'Fallon Township High School
McKendree University
Tina Napper, Public Relations and Communications Specialist, 618-537-6865, cmnapper@mckendree.eduShare this Story
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