Just miles away from the United Nations headquarters, NVOT’s Model UN team is bringing geopolitical issues to the forefront and breeding the next generation of international leaders and changemakers.
During the 2025-26 school year, Model UN has undergone a significant change, with a renewed focus on recruitment and competitive event opportunities. Sharon Kim, a previous club member and new club officer, says that “Model UN was a very inactive club” in the past. This year’s change reflects the goals of new student leaders and their aspiration to make Model UN a bigger part of student life.
Model UN is a club that simulates the United Nations, where members compete with neighboring schools at district and state conferences, represent countries as delegates, draft resolutions, and according to club advisor Mr. John O’Hanlon, “practice important skills like problem-solving, teamwork, and leadership through the lens of international issues and debates.”
“I love how interactive Model UN is. Everyone who is part of Model UN has a common goal of working together to solve a big societal problem,” Kim said.
Over the summer, student leaders Daniel Jung, Sharon Kim, and Yeeun Park were busy putting their vision together with the help of their new advisor, Mr. O’Hanlon.
O’Hanlon, a new World History teacher in the building, became the advisor because he “saw the position was open” and “already had experience with Model UN” at his previous school. O’Hanlon said, “I strongly believe in what this club stands for and what it can do for students who are willing to put in the work. The students this club attracts are extremely hardworking and passionate– not just about Model UN, but about bettering themselves. That makes wanting to do more for the club both enjoyable and rewarding. I wanted to be the advisor so I could give students the opportunity to excel in this field and provide them with the voice and support to do so.”
Model UN immediately hit the ground running at the start of the school year, gaining over 100 new members at September’s club fair, running a table at October’s annual Trunk-or-Treat, and hosting mock practice rounds at lunch throughout November. O’Hanlon credits the club’s success to student officers, who “do an incredible amount of work behind the scenes for each meeting and fundraiser and consistently come up with creative ideas to keep students engaged and prepared.”
After weeks of preparing and drafting position papers, the first big test for the team came in November with a district conference at Applied Technology High School. NVOT delegates delivered a strong performance, earning 6 awards across a range of categories. Romania delegates Neha Anoo and Yehvin Park won Outstanding Delegate from the Human Rights Council. Anoo, a junior and first-year Model UN member, credits her first win to a “supportive team environment” whose focus is “not just on winning but also learning and improving. This made my first conference a really positive experience, and I look forward to competing again in the future.”
Since November’s impressive performance, NVOT Model UN has held monthly practices in preparation for future events. “We are looking forward to taking a field trip to the UN headquarters in New York, which we hope will help our members learn more about how the UN works. We are also planning to participate in the [annual] BCA conference in February,” Kim said.
Kim notes that “although this year has been quite a learning curve, my officers and I have learned so much about Model UN and plan to continue growing this club.”
As NVOT Model UN continues to grow and evolve, the combination of dedicated student leadership and motivated members have set a strong foundation for the future. O’Hanlon adds that “club leaders have been the driving force behind the club’s success. They are truly the reason the club is heading in such a positive direction.” And with greater student involvement, increased competition opportunities, and a renewed sense of purpose, NVOT Model UN is creating an environment where students find their voice by applying innovative solutions to real world problems.