Two Highlanders Named to All-American Model United Nations

Beginning this fall, Matthew Neu '24 and Ryan Ryu '25 will join a cohort of select high school students focused on building their Model UN skills and competing at national Model UN conferences, including the prestigious North American Invitational Model United Nations (NAIMUN) at Georgetown University in February 2024.

According to the All-American Model UN, students can earn a seat on the nationally-recognized travel team by completing a Summer Academy or by applying directly for acceptance into the program. Neu and Ryu participated in the All-American Model UN's 10th Annual Diplomacy Academy, hosted at Boston University this summer. The program "challenges students to be better students, delegates, and global citizens," the Cambridge-based organization said.

"All our programs are once-in-a-lifetime experiences that will challenge you to be a better delegate, allow you to become a world traveler, and broaden your perspective of international affairs," Frank Pobutkiewicz, Founder and Managing Director, said in his acceptance letter to the students, noting that since 2012, All-American Model UN has won delegation awards in seven consecutive conferences and 95% of delegates have won individual awards.

"Moreover, 34% of our alumni have been accepted into Harvard, Yale, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Chicago, Georgetown University, or Stanford University," Pobutkiewicz said. "Your acceptance into the All-American Model UN is a testament to your accomplishment and zeal for academic performance inside and outside the classroom."

Neu and Ryu were among 15 Gunn students who participated in NAIMUN in February 2023.