PEA's Model UN club shines at global conference

Exeter named outstanding large delegation in Yale conference; mock trial team sweeps state competition.

January 27, 2021

The 2021 Yale Model United Nations annual conference drew more than 2,000 students from 40 countries and every inhabited continent. Exeter’s delegates shined among the brightest.

The PEA Model UN club was named the outstanding large delegation at the conclusion of the four-day international relations simulation last weekend, second-best in the large division. Delegation awards, according to the Yale conference website, are decided based on the overall performance of delegates within a delegation.

Twelve of the 20 Exonians who participated earned individual acclaim, as well. Individual honors are based on impromptu speaking and writing skills, ability to contribute to the course of the debate, teamwork and sportsmanship.

The Yale conference, in its 47th year, was held virtually due to health and safety concerns stemming from COVID-19, but was just as rigorous as usual. Seven committee sessions filled the docket, with topics ranging from NATO intervention in Afghanistan to cyber warfare to the 1848 revolutions in Europe. Each of Exeter’s 20 delegates were assigned to represent a nation or governing body and were meticulously prepared beforehand by PEA MUN co-heads Phil Horrigan ’21 and Nahla Owens ’21. Club advisers are history instructor Eve Southworth, modern languages instructor Marianne Zwicker and math instructor Rachel Labes.

Southworth called the awards "a happy side effect. Model UN's goal is to teach negotiating and collaboration skills, broaden students' worldview and help students build relationships around the globe," she said.

The delegates, with individual honors in parentheses:

Vibha Udayakumar ’23; Anderson Lynch ’23 (honorable mention); Jessica Huang ‘23 (honorable mention); Haakon Kohler ’23; Arhon Strauss ’23; Grace Keyt ’23 (best); Valentina Kafati ’22 (best); Toby Chan ’22; Angela Zhang ’23; Alexander Luque ‘22 (honorable mention); Tucker Gibbs ’23 (outstanding); Sabrina Kearney ’22 (outstanding); Sreesa Virinchi ’23 (honorable mention); Sam Creelan ’23; Cindy Su ’23 (outstanding); Stephen McNulty ’21 (honorable mention); Tina Huang ’22; Pedro Coelho ’22 (best); Lekha Masoudi ’22 (outstanding); Arya Nistane ’22.

 

PEA excels in mock trial competition

Exeter’s mock trial club claimed the top two spots at the recently concluded New Hampshire Mock Trial Invitational.

PEA’s Team A took first place and Team B finished as runner-up in the four-round event held virtually over two days. PEA’s Team C placed seventh.

Bona Yoo ’22 was named outstanding attorney, and David Chen ’23 and Teja Vankireddy ’22 each won an outstanding witness award.