McKendree University Hosts Nearly 300 High School Students for Model UN Nations Conference Nov. 12-13

by Tina Napper

Lebanon, IL (11/18/2025) — McKendree University hosted its Model United Nations conference from Nov. 12 through 13. Nearly 300 high school student delegates from 15 local high schools participated in this event.

The high school students represented 70 countries from around the world and debated important global issues. Participating high schools include the following:

Althoff Catholic High School
Belleville East High School
Belleville West High School
Christian Brothers College
Edwardsville High School
Freeburg High School
Gibault Catholic High School
Highland High School
Lebanon High School
Mascoutah High School
Okawville Jr./Sr. High School
Pana High School
Springfield High School
Triad High School
Valmeyer High School

The simulation included nine committees:

The General Assembly, chaired by McKendree senior Tyson Thompson, included topics like poverty and the Security Council reform.
The First Committee on Disarmament, chaired by McKendree sophomore Ivana Milkova, included topics like preventing cyber warfare and eliminating landmines.
The Third Committee on Social, Cultural, and Humanitarian Affairs, chaired by McKendree sophomore Payton Dowler, included topics like forced marriages and assistance to refugees.
The Sixth Legal Committee, chaired by McKendree senior Grace Vincent, included topics like piracy and the criminal accountability of personnel on UN missions.
The Economic and Social Council, chaired by McKendree sophomore Elijah Hansel, included topics like climate resilience and workers' rights.
The Science and Technology Committee, chaired by McKendree sophomore Anna Rose Sheehan, included topics like sustainable forest management and governing climate-altering technologies.
The Human Rights Council, chaired by McKendree senior Sarah Steibel, included topics like the treatment of prisoners and religious intolerance.
The World Health Organization, chaired by McKendree junior Adam Galdoni, included topics like exposure to carcinogenic agents and the ethical implications of human gene editing.
The Security Council, chaired by McKendree first-year Ava Schmollinger, included topics like protecting civilians in armed conflicts and the role of climate change in global security.

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. Many of today's leaders in law, government, business, and the arts - including the UN itself - participated in Model UN as high school and college students.

Grace

Vincent