EMS Model UN Delegation Closes a Year of Diplomacy with Major Awards

To wrap up an incredible year of diplomacy and debate, our Elisabeth Morrow School Model UN delegation competed this month at two highly prestigious conferences: Junior Academy Model United Nations (JAMUN), held at Bergen County Academies, and the Science Model United Nations, Jr. (SCIMUN), held at the Bronx High School of Science.

Facing competition from top-tier middle schools across the tri-state area in both General Assembly and Specialized Committees, our students demonstrated exceptional critical thinking, collaboration, and leadership. We are thrilled to share that EMS took home the Best Overall Large Delegation Award at JAMUN!

Please join us in celebrating our individual award winners for their exceptional research and diplomatic skills:

JAMUN Awards:

• Best Delegate: Arabelle S. ’26(Committee: ASEAN)
• Best Delegate: Ethan Q. ’27 (Committee: Crisis) — an incredible feat in his very first conference
• Outstanding Delegate: Scarlett S. ’26 (Committee: UNSC)
• Outstanding Delegate: Kabir R. ’27(Committee: ASEAN)
• Outstanding Delegate: Ari S. ’27 (Committee: WHO)
• Verbal Commendation: Maya T. ’28 (Committee: DISEC)

SCIMUN Jr. Awards:

• Honorable Mention: Kabir R. ’27 (Committee: UNESCO)
• Honorable Mention: Saro A. ’27 (Committee: SOCHUM)
• Honorable Mention: Vigyan H. ’26 (Committee: DISEC)

A Year of Growth

Model UN advisor Dorianne Steele, who is also an EMS seventh- and eighth-grade humanities teacher, reflects on how far the team has come. “Everyone grew as researchers, writers, and speakers,” she says. “All delegates dug deep into their background guides, worked collaboratively, and did a significant amount of research to deepen their understanding of complex global problems. More experienced delegates helped younger delegates feel more comfortable with Model UN procedures and strategies for successful partnerships. The team really had a collective, supportive vibe.”

That spirit of collaboration extended to the committee room itself. Seventh-grader Kabir R. describes a turning point during JAMUN when he chose to reach across the aisle — literally. “I decided to consult with the other bloc (a group of countries working toward a different solution), something I hadn’t done before,” he says. “After sharing my ideas and discussing differing opinions, I realized that this tactic is very useful.” His strategy paid off at both conferences — earning him an Outstanding Delegate award at JAMUN and an Honorable Mention at SCIMUN Jr. “Model UN has not just made me a better delegate, but a better public speaker.”

For sixth-grader Maya T., the challenge was finding her voice. “I felt nervous to try to work with people who were up to four years older than I was,” she shares. “When I actually accomplished this, I felt a sense of pride.” She didn’t stop there: “I started to talk to others instead of waiting for them to talk to me, and I took the initiative in those moments.”

Diplomacy is a Life Skill

Ms. Steele points to the school’s foundational 4 C’s — Courtesy, Consideration, Cooperation, and Compassion — as central to what makes Model UN such a natural fit for EMS students. “Empathy is embedded into the culture of EMS,” she says. “Model UN exposes students to challenges and problems that cannot be solved by one individual alone, so students see the true meaning and true need to be a global citizen.”

Kabir put it simply: “The biggest lessons I’ve learned this year are that really listening to other delegates’ viewpoints — and then using them — is extremely important. You need to change the way you think about the problem and incorporate other delegates’ standpoints, leading to a better, more inclusive conclusion overall.”

We are so proud of the eloquence and global perspective these compassionate young leaders bring to the committee room. Thank you to our advisors, parents, and the entire EMS community for supporting our delegates this year.