MUN success at St. Louis conference

NAYONIKKA SINGHAAL
PHOTOGRAPHER
STAFF WRITER

3/16/2026

Earlier in February, Alma College’s Model United Nations team returned from the Midwest Model United Nations Conference in St. Louis with another victory, continuing one of the longest winning streaks in collegiate Model UN competitions.  

This year’s win marks the 33rd time Alma has taken first place at the conference in its 34 years of participation. 

The team of 37 students represents one of the most internationally diverse groups on campus, with members from 11 countries including Vietnam, India, Ethiopia, Tunisia, Morocco, Poland, Greece, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Canada and Colombia.  

Their diversity and collaborative approach have become a defining strength of the program. Students from different academic majors and cultural backgrounds work together to represent countries, debate international issues and draft resolutions addressing global challenges. 

According to Derick Hulme, MUN faculty advisor and head of Alma’s Political Science Department, the team’s success comes from both preparation and teamwork.  

“Our team has worked incredibly hard to understand what has been done in the past about issues that are confronting the world today,” said Hulme. 

During the conference, students participate in committee simulations where they represent assigned countries and negotiate solutions to complex global problems. Delegates research their country’s policies, debate with other universities and work together to draft resolutions that aim to address real-world issues such as security and human rights. 

The resolutions produced during the conference are sent to the real United Nations, giving students the opportunity to contribute ideas to ongoing global conversations. Hulme emphasized that the team’s commitment to research and collaboration sets Alma apart from other delegations. 

For many students, the conference offered an opportunity to apply months of preparation while also building new connections within the team. 

“The St. Louis conference offered me and every new MUN student a chance to display their hard work and learn a lot. It was a great experience for us and lots of fun to work with others. I’m excited for what comes next,” said Alex Detterman (’29). 

“One of the major reasons we are so successful is because everybody is committed to helping each other do the very best job they can. It’s an enormous effort to have 36 people trying to pull in the same direction, and our students do that extremely well,” said Hulme. 

This year’s conference was also notable for the progress made by first-year participants. Many new delegates attended St. Louis for the first time, gaining experience in negotiation, public speaking and diplomatic writing. Hulme credited returning members for mentoring new delegates and helping them quickly gain the confidence and skills needed to succeed. 

“The conference went very well, and it was very rewarding to see the hard work pay off, and I just want to thank all of our mentors who spent endless time helping us prepare” said JJ Bizon (‘29). 

Beyond competition, Model UN serves as a training ground for skills that extend far beyond diplomacy. Students learn how to conduct research, communicate effectively, collaborate with others and present themselves professionally. These experiences help students develop leadership and problem-solving abilities that are valuable in any career field. 

“It is a great step towards our final goal of succeeding in New York and a great opportunity to see amazing people do amazing things,” said Filippos Mourikis (‘26). 

“I always think Model UN is 10% about being in the UN and 90% a life-skills class,” said Hulme. 

With the St. Louis victory behind them, the Alma team is now preparing for the National Model United Nations Conference in New York, where both new and returning delegates will represent the college on an international stage once again.