EagleMUN Charges On, Competing at KnightMUN at UCF!

  • 13 Nov
  • 2024

By Mr. Robert Burke, EagleMUN Sponsor and Upper School Social Studies Teacher

From November 8-10, EagleMUN, the Model United Nations team at Montverde Academy, competed in KnightMUN XXIII, hosted by the University of Central Florida. This year, KnightMUN included over a dozen schools with nearly 500 student delegates. Model United Nations is a competitive UN simulation, recreating actual UN committees, specialized topics, and crisis committees.

Four student-delegates were recognized for their achievements. Senior Falysha Belvu and Sophomore Camelia Berrada earned Verbal Commendation.

“The Model UN experience is very enjoyable,” said Camelia Berrada ’27. “You get to meet new people while you challenge yourself and gain confidence. I have attended two conferences, and those conferences pushed me to be a leader and experience new things. I can’t wait to attend more!”

Junior Nate Diaz and Senior Vaasu Gadiparthi earned Outstanding Delegate. “KnightMUN was more than just a conference; it was an exciting new journey of diplomacy, collaboration, and personal growth,” said Nate. “The challenges faced in Model UN pushed me to think critically and communicate effectively to work towards solutions more than any classroom has. This experience constantly challenged me to think on my feet, adapt to new situations, and push beyond my comfort zone. I had an amazing time, being able to both practice skills with real world implications and be a freaking pirate.”

“Model UN has given me the opportunity to improve my diplomatic public speaking skills, as well as my creative mindset,” said Vaasu. “After attending seven conferences, two of those being national, my ability to speak confidently and convey a clear message to rooms full of strangers has increased dramatically. I’ve been able to witness diverse speakers use different ways to captivate an audience, and I’ve been able to incorporate their techniques to create my own unique voice.”

We are tremendously proud of all the hard work Montverde Academy delegates poured into this early conference. Nearly half of the MVA delegates were participating in their first conference! We are already preparing for the next conference, GatorMUN, at the University of Florida, January 24-26.

“KnightMUN was definitely a conference to further improve my skills in Model UN,” said Falysha Belvu ’25. “Model UN has improved my skills in speech and debate, as well as research, and has allowed me to become passionate about topics that I’ve never thought to look into before. I’m excited for the next conference!”

For mor information about Model United Nations at Montverde Academy, contact Robert.Burke@montverde.org or Marca.Hoyle@montverde.org.

Montverde Academy Student Delegates and Committee Assignments at KnightMUN

General Assembly Committees

Disarmament and International Security (DISEC)

      • Iraq: Meera Patel, Eisha Cheema

      • Israel: Krisha Patel, Tomi Babs-Ajayi

    • Italy: Huy Tran, Isabella Cui

World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)

      • Japan: Noor Cheema

      • Kenya: Elissa Ghanem

    • Madagascar: Sanvhi Gandhi

UN Environment Programme (UNEP)

      • Haiti: Gracie Laster

      • Dominican Rep: Zara Liles-Henry

      • Cuba: Emily Nguyen

    • China: Lyder Reksten

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

      • Slovakia: Laura Menossi

      • Slovenia: Allison Troche

    • Albania: Sabrina Kelly

World Health Organization (WHO)

    • Australia: Max Zhang

Adhoc GA: Socialist International

      • Alabania: Camelia Berrada

    • Portugal: Tracy Pham

Specialized Committees

German Reunification 1989

      • Eduard Shevadnadze: Rowan Bayer

    • Helmut Kohl: Isabella Salgado

Pride & Prejudice & Zombies: Victorian Guide to the Apocalypse

      • Beatrice Hargrave: Tatriana Hinds

    • Frederick Montrose: Julianna Barbieri

Crisis Committees

Joint Crisis: War of the Gods: Rome

    • Ceres: Falysha Belvu

The Pirate Republic of Nassau

    • Oliver Levasseur: Nathan Diaz

Marvel: Aftermath of the Blip

      • Moon Knight: Laven Parker

    • Spiderman: Vaasu Gadiparthi

Suijushichishi: The 47 Ronin

    • Senzaki Yagorō Noriyoshi: Andrew Borne

Drive to Survive: F1 Board of Directors

    • Mike Krack: Shaan Verma

Nook Island Development Project

    • Lyle: Salma Zeidan

Adhoc Crisis: KnightMUN Secretariat

      • Position 8: Nicole Sanchez

      • Position 9: Camila Areinamo

      • Position 15: Jacob Novis

    • Position 16: Natalie Santos