The Maggie Walker Model UN team’s VAMUN experience started long before the first “motion to open debate” or the first bang of a gavel. Substantial amounts of planning and organizing went into making the trip a success, reflecting the hardworking nature of the MLWGS MUN community. Aditya Bhadhrayan (‘25), one of the Model UN co-presidents, says, “We had been preparing for this conference months in advance (whether it was logistics or running the training workshops) so it was so fulfilling to see everyone have a great time and go up to win awards.”

On Friday, November 15th, at 10:00 AM, 42 students, three chaperones, and two sponsors left school and made their way to Charlottesville. The ride there was long, but there was never a dull moment. It featured rushed, last-minute drafts of opening statements, and even an a cappella show by Tanvi Palavalas (‘25), Model UN co-president. VAMUN is UVA’s annual invitational conference held on campus; students from throughout Virginia, and some even from other states, buzzed with excitement as everyone made their way to the first committee session. Teenagers transformed into adaptable and efficient delegates, representing countries and people. 

For over eleven hours, Dragons led, collaborated, and compromised, working together to produce durable resolutions and directives to face the world’s most pressing issues. Some students worked on the militarization of space, or prepared for the Persian invasion, roleplaying as people in the Hellenistic world. Delegates were NBA coaches, directors of Monsters Inc., TikTok influencers, while others didn’t even know their positions before the conference. All the Maggie Walker students were ready to face the twists and turns of their committees, thanks to prior training workshops. 

The Dragons displayed responsibility and unity during the trip, showing their school pride as they claimed their own merited awards or cheered on their classmates as they went up for theirs. Among the various accolades, Rewa Totey (‘26), Sanaya Bothra (‘26), and Ousmane Dieng (‘27) won Best Delegate awards, bringing home well-deserved gavels. Rewa describes the experience as “unreal but also rewarding, because me and Sanaya’s hard work in committee paid off.” Every delegate gave their all in committee, with the Dragon family always there to support them. 

Though it did feel nice to win, that was never the only goal of the Model UN dragons. The Maggie Walker team brought a variety of students, some who borrowed a parent’s blazer and stepped into a conference for the first time, while others were well-known “gavelers,” leading the committees with experienced confidence and clarity. Aditya says, “We really tried to make sure that our newer delegates were well prepared and felt confident to represent Maggie Walker at VAMUN.”

For the seniors at the conference, the bus ride back to Richmond was bittersweet. Many started their Model UN journey at Maggie Walker as novice delegates, but now have evolved into mentors, guides, leaders, and award-winners over the years. Though this may be their last VAMUN experience, the Model UN spirit is still strong in the Class of 25 and they are igniting a spark in the underclassmen to continue the Maggie Walker Model UN legacy.