Model UN Team Hosted Successful Conference Ahead of Competitive Season

Model United Nations is an educational program that has been teaching students the art of debating and solving global issues for decades. The Bloomfield Hills High School Model UN co-curricular club and team have been a part of this tradition for almost as long. Through educational simulations, students become delegates from different countries, debating and negotiating complex world topics using parliamentary procedures. Past issues have included climate change, human rights, sanctions, and regional conflicts.

The Black Hawk team is proud to be a part of the SouthEast Michigan Model United Nations Association.  BHHS social studies teacher Matthew MacLeod brings an impressive amount of expertise and passion to both groups as the advisor to the BHHS team and the director of SEMMUNA. MacLeod’s involvement has allowed BHHS to host the annual SEMMUNA Fall Conference, a key event before the competitive season. MacLeod stated, “I like to host the conference at BHHS every couple of years…we have an awesome facility, and the district's always so supportive.” The kick-off conference is ideal for novice students to engage in a low-stakes experience in familiar surroundings and allows more advanced students to warm up for the season.

The November 2025 Fall Conference was a joint effort between the BHHS and International Academy Central Model UN teams. Themed, “The Snags in Fast Fashion,” the event was held at BHHS and welcomed over 1,300 high school students from across mid and lower Michigan. It was both a big fundraising event and an outstanding opportunity for students to plan and manage a large professional gathering. Along with MacLeod, IA teachers, Ashleigh Dubie and Joel Greenblatt, guided the leadership team of BHHS students: Baird George (grade 11), Iman Khan (grade 12), Alexis Migliore (grade 11), Audrey Ng (grade 12), Hassan Ramadan (grade 12), and Katie Tadesse (grade 12) and IA students: Nily Samara (grade 12) and Aadhya Shrish Kumar (grade 11). These students played key roles in executing the conference's success. 

Accompanied by a performance from the BHHS drum line, Superintendent Rick West welcomed the business-attired students at the opening ceremony. Coaches and students inspired attendees to work together and to think critically. Intelligent debates were moderated and resolutions were achieved in 40 classrooms, with 200 students acting as chairs over an eight-hour day. “The conference went really well. Our kids all shared, they learned a ton, and it was very good for them to see what Model UN is all about. It was a really great chance for kids to practice diplomacy and international politics,” MacLeod commented.

BHHS Model UN students are now busy preparing for their competitive season, beginning with their first tournament on Saturday, January 10, 2026, in Walled Lake. IA students already kicked off their season in December with their next competition in mid-January at the University of Michigan. Their efforts and preparation are expected to earn both teams accolades and awards throughout the spring season.