In November 2025, Hillsboro High School’s Model United Nations delegation attended the Tennessee YMCA Model United Nations Conference in Murfreesboro and brought home some huge successes and achievements! Model United Nations, which I’ll be referring to as MUN from here on, is a simulation of the United Nations and the many bodies it contains such as the Security Council, Department of Global Communications, General Assembly, International Court of Justice, and the Secretariat. At MUN, students from middle school all the way up to college come together to engage in civic engagement, create solutions for problems all around the world, debate resolutions and international issues, and make connections! 

This year, Hillsboro brought an impressive 43 students to the 2025 MUN Conference.

• 36 delegates participated in the General Assembly
• 7 delegates participated in special committees or non-GA programs.  Valary Adedire in Security Council Representing Russia, Bailey Moore as the Office of Legal Affairs in the Secretariat, Will Gowan in The Department of Global Communications as Press, Clara Dehority as Justice of The International Court of Justice, and Israel Onaghinor, Hiya Sharma, and Nagima Makhamatzhanova as Lawyers in The International Court of Justice.

The delegation earned a total of 7 awards, marking one of Hillsboro’s most successful conferences yet.

Hillsboro’s preparation for MUN begins weeks before the conference. Students research their assigned countries, analyze current global issues, and draft resolutions addressing real-world problems.

The club is supported by dedicated advisors and student officers, including Ms. Plumb and Ms. Barton as advisors, Clara Dehority as Component President, Clayton Bulbulkaya as Legislative President, Adelaide Smith as Senior Mentor, Baker Hasty as Secretary, and Charlotte Cropp as Social Media Manager. 

The Tennessee YMCA MUN Conference brought together hundreds of delegates representing countries from all around the world. Hillsboro students debated critical global issues ranging from health equity and economic development to climate diplomacy and international security topping the game. Let’s get a couple comments and advice from some of our delegates!

Model UN: Student Interviews

Names & Grades: Hudson Mills (Senior), Hayden Lutgens (Senior), Allison Riviere (Sophomore)

What inspired you to join Model UN this year?

• Hudson Mills: “I thought it’d be a fun way to learn about foreign policy, and it’d be cool to participate in something on a large scale.”
• Hayden Lutgens: “I like arguing.”
• Allison Riviere: “I wanted to improve my way of communicating with others and have new experiences.”
  

How would you describe your overall experience at the conference?

• Hudson: “Sleepless but fun.”
• Hayden: “It left me wanting more.”
• Allison: “I was confused at first, but then it was fun and interesting.”
  

What was your favorite part of participating in MUN?

• Hudson & Hayden: “Coning (basically speeches to convince others not to pass the bill) resolutions.”
• Allison: “Seeing others debate.”
  

What was your most memorable moment at the conference?

• Hayden: “Addressing the floor during a con speech.”
• Hudson: “When Israel and Palestine were debating.”
• Allison: “Sharing a hotel room with my friends.”
  

Was there a specific debate, speech, or resolution that stood out to you?

• Hayden & Hudson: “Cyprus’s resolution.”
  
• Allison: “The debate around Colombia’s resolution.”
  

If you do MUN again, what would you change or do differently?

• Allison: “I would prepare more for questions other delegations might ask about my resolution.”

Award Winners Interviews

Winners (name, grade, country/component):

• Will Gowan – Senior, Press (DGC)
• Lizzaria Gresham – Sophomore, Burkina Faso
• Eden Merryman – Sophomore, Burkina Faso
• Eliza Middlebrooks – Sophomore, Burkina Faso
  

How did it feel when you found out you won?

• Will Gowan: “I was really shocked because I was pretty reserved in press, but it felt great that someone saw and appreciated my work.”
• Burkina Faso team: “We were surprised, excited, and honored; we did well, but it wasn’t expected.”
  

What contributed most to your success at this year’s MUN?

• Will: “I made a point to communicate clearly with press officers about why I was there and what I wanted to contribute, that visibility helped.”
• Burkina Faso team: “Our idea and passion. We cared deeply about our resolution and wrote an emotional summation.”
  

Advice for future award hopefuls:

• Will: “Play all fields. Press covers a lot; don’t just stick to one role. Reach out, communicate, and approach it holistically.”
• Eliza: “Plan and make sure you’re very prepared before your presentation.”
• Eden: “Pick something that matters to you. Passion shows, and if you care about your topic, the work and attention will follow.”
• Lizzaria: “Have fun with your bill. Don’t take it so seriously that you stop enjoying the experience but still make people understand your point.”
  

Funniest or most memorable moment of the weekend:

• Will: “Arriving in the rain completely dry while my friends were soaked.”
• Eliza: “Making a lot of friends during the general assemblies and talking about other people’s bills.”
• Eden: “Realizing there are peers our age who care about the same issues and seeing youth represented in government.”
• Lizzaria: “Winning the award was unreal and all the getting-ready moments, breakfast, and going out afterwards were memorable too.”
  

If you could give your pre-conference self one tip:

• Will: “Put myself out there more, I was nervous since there weren’t other Hillsboro students in press and it took time to warm up.”
• Lizzaria: “Be better with time; don’t forget how time works. Just be on time.”
• Eden: “Double-check budgets; a small budgeting error could’ve been avoided with a more thorough review.”
• Eliza: “Practice the pro/con and technical questions a lot. When you get up there, it’s easy to get flustered, so anticipate every question someone might ask.”

Other Award Winners include: Bailey Moore, Charlotte Cropp, and Sparrow Stone!

This year’s Model UN conference brought Hillsboro students challenge, excitement, and unforgettable memories. Whether debating major international issues or celebrating unexpected awards, each participant walked away with new skills, new friendships, and a deeper understanding of global leadership. For many, the experience not only strengthened their confidence but also sparked a desire to return next year with even greater preparation and passion. If you’ve read this far, consider Youth in Government (YIG) which has its interest meeting at the beginning of the 2nd semester! Go Burros!!