Approximately 2500 students, representing more than 200 schools from around the world, met in New York to simulate the interworking of the United Nations. After four-days of debating international crises and drafting multilateral resolutions, Highland Park High School’s Model UN team came in first place (Delegation of Distinction) and Deerfield High School’s Model UN team came in second (Delegation of Excellence).

“Our school exceeded our expectations,” Shana Zucker, DHS senior and Model UN co-president, said.

HPHS has a track record of doing well at conferences like NHSMUN, “We are very lucky to have an incredible Model UN team as does Deerfield,” stated Joseph Brysiewicz, HPHS teacher and sponsor.  Brysiewicz added that his students really push each other, “We think that a strong culture of student empowerment is the key to the success.”

In comparison, Deerfield High School has a smaller and newer team. This year was its third time competing at the conference.

“We were aware of the team awards, but we were realistically aware that the odds were not in our favor,” Zucker said. “When it was announced that we had won the Award of Excellence, we were first shocked, and then hysterically laughing, applauding, and high-fiving one another.”

This year, HPHS represented the United States, Belgium, and Zambia. Meanwhile, DHS represented Albania. Each conference, a few students are awarded the opportunity to defend the resolution they helped write by making a speech in the actual United National General Assembly Hall. This year, DHS senior Julia Bank was one of the students selected, “It was amazing,” she said about the experience. “I think that Chicago definitely represented in New York.”