Nearly 300 high school students from 14 schools in Montana and Idaho participated in the 60th annual Montana Model United Nations Conference, held last month at the University of Montana. The event spanned two days and focused on debate, collaboration, and civic engagement.
The conference allowed students to act as international delegates, research global issues, draft resolutions, and negotiate solutions—activities that reflect the work of the United Nations. Organizers said these exercises help students develop public speaking, writing, leadership skills, critical thinking, and encourage dialogue across differing viewpoints.
Speakers included Jason Bellini, a journalist with experience at major news outlets such as the Wall Street Journal and CNN; Channing Hartelius, a University of Montana alumnus who served as secretary-general for MMUN in the 1960s; and several other alumni like Louise and Don Krumm and Jennifer Isern.
The conference was supported by several University of Montana partners: the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Center, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, and Department of Political Science.
Awards were given to student participants across multiple categories:
Delegate Awards recognized Honorable Delegates (top 20%), Distinguished Delegates (top 10%), and Outstanding Delegates (top 1-2%) in committees such as General Assembly First Committee (GA-1), General Assembly Third Committee (GA-3), United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA), Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and Security Council (SC).
Position Paper Awards honored students for their written submissions with Honorable Position Papers (top 20%), Distinguished Position Papers (top 10%), and Outstanding Position Papers (top 1-2%).
Top senior participants received medals or scholarships based on their performance. The top five seniors were Rhea Lowe from Gallatin High School representing the United Kingdom in GA3; Meena Bulmahn from Hellgate High School representing Sri Lanka in ECOSOC; Ezra Graham from Gallatin High School representing the United Kingdom in ECOSOC; Joshua Lee from Glacier High School representing India in IAEA; Alex Hansen from Bozeman High School representing Panama in UNEA.
Country Awards recognized delegations for overall performance: Honorable Country Delegations went to teams such as Germany represented by Gallatin High School; Chile by Hellgate High School; Japan by Big Sky High School. Distinguished Country Delegations included Liechtenstein by Gallatin High School. Outstanding Country Delegations included United Kingdom by Gallatin High School.
School Awards acknowledged both small delegations like CDA Charter advised by Kevinn Smith among honorable schools, Glacier HS led by Beau Wright among distinguished schools, Big Sky High School led by Sari Chabot & Zach Craig among outstanding small delegations—and large delegations such as Flathead HS advised by Scott O’Donnell among honorable schools, Gallatin High School led by Logan Aytes among outstanding large delegations.
Staff awards also recognized University of Montana students for roles such as expert adviser or committee chair during the conference.
Karen Ruth Adams—a UM political science professor—and Dominic Beccari—UM adjunct faculty—served as contacts for further information about the event.
