Wright State’s Model UN team once again secures top honors at national conference  

Wright State University’s Model United Nations program extended its streak of excellence by earning a team delegation honor for the 45th consecutive year at the 2025 National Model U.N. Conference in New York City. 

Representing the Russian Federation, Wright State’s Model U.N. team received the highest team honor — an Outstanding Delegation Award — at the conference, which attracted more than 210 colleges and universities from around the world on April 6–10. 

Seven Wright State students also received individual awards at the national conference: 

Outstanding Paper Award winners:  

• Chloe Johnston and Sydney Hoffman — Commission on the Status of Women
• Marwah Almuzoughi and Misker Dressie — High Commission for Refugees
• Ala Hagi and Sadeen Naser — General Assembly 3rd Committee
• Amana Koeller and Siobhan O’Boyle — Peace Building Commission 

 Peer Award for Outstanding Delegates in Committee winners: 

• Amana Koeller and Siobhan O’Boyle — Peace Building Commission 

The team is advised by Vaughn Shannon, Ph.D., professor of political science and director of the Master of Arts in International and Comparative Politics program, and Liam Anderson, Ph.D., professor of political science. 

Head delegates Eliza Hendrix and Brad Klingbeil played a crucial role in preparing the team for the challenge of representing Russia at the national conference.  

“It was a young team and a challenging year representing the Russian Federation. The students rose to the challenge,” Shannon said. 

Klingbeil, a graduate mechanical engineering student, added: “The consistent excellence of our program is a testament to the team culture instilled by the faculty advisors, Dr. Shannon and Dr. Anderson, and I could not be prouder of this particular group of delegates for what they accomplished this year.” 

The 2025 team includes Marwah Almuzoughi, Liene Craft, Cheruto Davis, Emma Doci, Misker Dressie, Ala Hagi, Eliza Hendrix, Sydney Hoffman, Molly Holloway, Preston Holton, Chloe Johnston, Amy Klingbeil, Brad Klingbeil, Amana Koeller, Victoria Kunc, Coen Lucas, Sadeen Naser, Zain Naser, Siobhan O’Boyle, Katelyn O’Connell, Abrar Salem, Chiara Stirpe, Murphy VanBalen and Connor Wilson. 

During the National Model United Nations conference, each participating university is assigned a country to represent. Students act as delegates to different U.N. committees, conducting research and developing political positions based on the actual policies of their assigned countries. 

The Wright State team also participated in a briefing with the Russian Mission to the United Nations during this year’s conference. 

Wright State’s Model United Nations program, established in 1970, is open to students from all majors. Interested students interview in the fall and participate in a three-credit-hour political science class during the spring semester. 

Students develop skills in teamwork, problem-solving, diplomacy, public speaking, technical writing and research. They also learn how to implement a different country’s national and foreign policy, how to act in committee and what to expect from other countries at the conference. 

Learn more about Wright State’s award-winning Model United Nations program at wright.edu/modelun. 

 Wright State to host high school conference 

Wright State will host its High School Model United Nations Conference on Saturday, April 19, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Gandhi Auditorium in White Hall on the Dayton Campus. Seven local schools are expected to participate. 

Led by Wright State’s faculty, students and alumni, the conference is open to area high school model U.N. clubs. More information is available on the Wright State website.