Students Launch INTL’s First Middle School Model UN Conference

INTL hosted its very first Middle School Model UN Conference in January! This was a student-driven effort and we are incredibly proud of our students for bringing this to fruition. The conference was conceived to provide an opportunity for local schools to continue to build their problem-solving and debate skills. While the conference itself was just one day, the preparation for the event began long before the first session took place. Putting together a multi-school event presented significant challenges that our students met head-on.

One of the major hurdles was establishing the conference’s presence as a first-time event. The team designed promotional materials, did extensive market research, created a compelling pitch, and executed a strategic outreach campaign to invite other local middle schools. This involved countless calls and emails, as well as leveraging connections to former INTL faculty and staff. This required our students to act as true diplomats, building relationships and ensuring the conference topics, structure, and price point were attractive and valuable to their peers across the region.

The outreach was further strengthened with support from Jovi Olson, INTL’s Chief Communications Officer, who helped connect INTL with partner schools by tapping into existing collegial relationships within the Bay Area independent school community. This support helped students establish momentum and visibility for the conference's inaugural year, including one school alone sending 19 delegates!

Additionally, transforming the Willows Campus into a conference center required meticulous planning. Classrooms were transformed into committee chambers and meeting spaces. Registration pages needed to be created and tracked. Schedules were adjusted again and again to keep the day moving smoothly.

This monumental student effort was strengthened by the guidance of the school's dedicated Model UN advisors, Hank Degreef and Richard Goulding. Furthermore, the Middle School team received critical support and mentorship from the experienced High School Model UN Team, particularly the 10th Grade members. These high schoolers provided invaluable assistance with training, procedure refinement, and overall conference structure, ensuring this first-time event ran with admirable efficiency.

"It's been such an honor to be able to create this unique experience for the delegates. Their dedication to the club and overall determination is inspiring. It feels great to know that the future of MUN is in good hands." - Margo V. (10th Grade)