Hoover’s Model United Nations participated in a two-day tournament at the University of Southern California on Saturday and Sunday.

Members prepared by conducting research on world issues relevant to the countries and committees assigned to them.

“[Students] need to understand their own country’s policies, actions, and history, in addition to collaborative efforts,” explained MUN advisor and social science teacher Alexandra Mazmanian. “They need to figure out some allies of other nations that are about the same geopolitical level as them…or that they think they can build a partnership with.”

Participants were also required to write resolutions, or formal solutions, that had to be passed within their committees.

“We needed to work and navigate a room of over 50 delegates and strategically plan alliances that would allow us to pass our resolutions,” claimed president and senior Mary Ghazaryan.

Ghazaryan helped guide the students as they transitioned into a more competitive space.

“I had to make sure everyone understood what they had to prepare,” said Ghazaryan. “I helped them have an idea of what the competition would look like, how to prepare speeches, and how to speak and interact with other delegates formally.”

Being MUNs first competition since the establishment of the club, the team was comprised entirely of rookies. 

“I was actually a lot of fun,” said freshman Gloria Peters. “There was a lot of public speaking and walking around, but the campus is nice and everyone is pretty chill.”

“The experience was both overwhelming and exciting, especially given it was our first time competing amongst [experienced delegates],” said Ghazaryan. “But it was a really great learning experience that allowed us to meet a lot of cool people.”