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By Jennifer K. Morita

April 28, 2025

Thirteen Sacramento State students and their faculty advisor traveled to the Big Apple for the 2025 National Model United Nations Conference and came home with several awards – including one of the conference’s top honors.

They also learned valuable lessons in diplomacy.

“Looking at history, we understand that cooperation and diplomacy are the way forward,” Model UN student Nikita Akhumov said. “If we neglect or push those things aside, it’ll be disastrous, especially now when we have major wars around the globe.

“This was a lesson in working together, coming together and holding hands around the world to come to a consensus.”

Along with Akhumov, Sacramento State’s team included Isabella Dominguez, Daniel Fernandez, Melanie Kannalikham, Emanuela Koplik, Aedhan Lanta, Molly Mellon, Sophia Mercer, Timothy Morrison, Jania Sanchez, Jasmit Singh, Sofiia Vranchan, and Ian Zentner.

Together, they won the Overall Outstanding Delegation Award, the highest honor for an entire delegation, during the conference, which was held April 6-10 in New York City.

Other awards include:

• Outstanding Position Paper Awards for Timothy Morrison and Sofiia Vranchan on the Human Rights Council; Isabella Dominguez and Melanie Kannalikham on the Commission on the Status of Women; Ian Zentner on the Commission for Population and Development; and Molly Mellon and Emanuela Koplik on the Economic and Social Council.
• Outstanding Delegate Awards, for Ian Zentner, Sofiia Vranchan, and Timothy Morrison

Established in 1927, the National Model United Nations was the first organization to simulate what would eventually become the UN. It is the largest university-level Model UN in the world and draws participants from more than 100 UN member states each year.

Participating students research an assigned topic and write position papers, then work with other delegates to pass resolutions on pressing global issues. Through the experience, they hone their skills in diplomacy, negotiation, critical thinking, compromise and public speaking.

The conference culminates with a ceremony at the United Nations General Assembly.

“Being at the conference and doing so much diplomacy and working with people to get things done, really reinvigorated my passion for politics. I’ve made the choice to go to law school, in large part, because of this program.” -- Molly Mellon, ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ student and Model UN team member

This year’s ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ student participants were enrolled in the year-long Model UN course led by Assistant Professor of Political Science Harry Blain, who selected Amnesty International as the organization the delegation would represent at the conference. He also assigned students to a UN committee, such as the Human Rights Council, in the fall and they decided which global issue to tackle.

Molly Mellon had planned to pursue journalism after graduation, but her experience with Model UN changed her mind.

“Being at the conference and doing so much diplomacy and working with people to get things done, really reinvigorated my passion for politics,” Mellon said. “I’ve made the choice to go to law school, in large part, because of this program.”

Jasmit Singh, who served on the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, praised the camaraderie among the delegates and the importance of the event, citing an incident in which another delegate wasn’t allowed into the United States.

“Their partner gave a speech about not making it through border control, and you’re not supposed to clap after speeches, but the whole room was clapping,” Singh said. “It was a nice moment – that even with the state of the world today and foreign relations, we’re all here together.”