40-Student Delegation Attends Ivy League Model UN Conference
A large delegation of 40 Upper School students attended the Ivy League Model United Nations Conference in Philadelphia January 26-29, organized and staffed by University of Pennsylvania students.
The following students received awards at the conclusion of the conference:
- Haila Desai ’24 and Shay O’Connor ’23 earned verbal commendations for their delegation on the World Meteorological Association (representing Mexico).
- Avani Verma ’24 and Sophia Lalani ’25 earned honorable mentions for their delegation on the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (representing Mexico).
- Maya DeAndrea ’25 earned Outstanding Delegate as Laura C. Kim on the Oscars committee.
- Heera Delal ’23 and Andrew Mercantini ’23 earned Best Delegation on the World Health Organization (representing Mexico).
Proud MFS Model UN Advisor and History Teacher Clark Thomson authored this poignant summary to parents and guardians immediately after the conference.
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Sunday has arrived. A long glorious Model United Nations conference is drawing to a close. Down in the lobby dressed down delegates in bucket hats abound. The merch stand was doing brisk business yesterday suggesting everyone wants to remember this long weekend. From leadership to novice, all of the MFS delegates have stories of challenges and successes to tell. I had the good fortune to see our delegates in action in committee.
I enjoyed immense support from our student leadership managing a large delegation during a weekend which had some non-MUN challenges. Andrew, Shay, Heera, Haila, and Vanya (Weinstock ’23) took on that responsibility with good humor and commitment.
Most importantly, our delegation was engaged, committed to learn, and to find consensus in committee. They supported each other, and found joy in the success of their peers. Berra (Deryal ’26), one of our novice club members, let me know she was going out to lunch with “Norway”, the shorthand for meeting with another specific delegation. How quickly they learn and become comfortable developing relationships with MUNers from other schools. Quickly, Model UN becomes a large bonded community.
At the closing ceremonies, the Moorestown Friends School delegation was recognized a number of times. Though we always say it is not about awards and gavels, they are the icing on an amazing cake. As always, there were some sour moments when recognition seemed wrongly placed, and the excellent work of our delegations was missed. But, that is, as Insp. Clouseau said, “All part of life’s rich pageant.” And, rich, this weekend was.
Sincerely,
Clark Thomson
I want to write a few words about this achievement and these two delegates (Heera Delal and Andrew Mercantini) and our leadership as a whole. The last in-person conference these two participated in before the pandemic was ILMUNC. Back at MFS, they recreated a picture they took after that conference when they were ninth graders. Now, they are relied upon leaders whose insight and support have made this program successful. They are examples, role models, if you will. I get choked up thinking about this. They started doing Model UN with me in Summer Scholars when they were in sixth grade. Their friendship, humor, and commitment to every delegate is, and always has been, superlative.
Last year, Heera and Shay ran the new delegates program through the club, setting an example ably continued this year by Maya and Avani. Our program is better for the work of all four. Andrew has set a tone of “team” with infectious enthusiasm that never wavers in his role as Co-Secretary General with Shay. Yes, there will be a passing at the end of this wonderful year, but an example has been set by all our senior leaders, titled or not. We owe a great deal to Vanya Weinstock, Daniel Sorokin, Shay O’Connor, Andrew Mercantini, Haila Desai, Avani Verma, Maya DeAndrea, Julia Tourtellotte ’25, Shriya Reddy ’23, and making an important impact in his first year, Mich Kowalski ’25.