Only four percent of the high school students who attended the Yale Model United Nations earned awards.

Wilbraham & Monson Academy had two students – Ximena Perez Garcia ’26 and Colin Moussette ’26 - win honors, which speaks volumes for the school’s Model UN and Model Congress programs.

The grueling four-day event held in late January at the Yale University campus in New Haven, Connecticut, hosted roughly 2,100 students from around the world, including more than two dozen from WMA.

“Students enjoyed their experience quite a bit at Yale, as they got the opportunity to test their academic and relationship skills against a cadre of top students,” explained Dr. Anthony Kandel, the program’s Faculty Advisor. “Learning how to navigate the process and working on passing resolutions requires focus, skill and good cheer. 

“In addition to the committee work, many students develop excellent friendships with people they meet at the conference and often reconnect at Harvard in a month or next year. This conference also provides the chance to meet students from literally all over the globe, as many foreign nations send delegations.”

Ximena earned a Gold Medal, winning “Best Delegate” as a representative for Malta on the European Union committee.

“Attending this event allowed me to deepen my understanding of international cooperation and policymaking on asylum issues,” said Ximena, who was awarded a gavel as the committee’s top delegate. “I gained valuable experience in diplomatic negotiation, public speaking and forming solutions to complex global challenges. This experience also allowed me to represent Malta's unique perspective, collaborate with delegates from diverse countries and build connections with peers who are passionate about global issues. I would say that Model United Nations conferences are an excellent opportunity to exercise leadership skills and improve your communication skills.”

“Ximena continued her run of tremendous performances by winning the treasured ‘Best Delegate Award’ at this year's Yale MUN,” stated Dr. Kandel. “Her devotion to mastering the process and subject matter, combined with her relational skills as a delegate, made her an obvious choice for this highest of honors. Ximena is a conference superstar, and I am quite confident that she will again vie for top honors next month at Harvard.”

Meanwhile, Colin won a Silver Medal (Honorable Delegate) for his efforts as a delegate of the Republic of Korea in the World Health Organization.

“The most challenging part of the event was leaving it,” Colin expressed. “Forming relationships with people was an incredible opportunity, and I believe all Wilbraham & Monson Academy students understood that. I grew closer to many friends at the Academy while also meeting new people and developing friendships with incredibly kind and sophisticated individuals. Events like YMUN are unique in this way. Often, they can look like a four-day hiatus from responsibility, but the emotional weight of leaving and realizing you may never see these people again often stays with you.”

Dr. Kandel noted Colin’s efforts inside and outside committee, saying, “Colin was outstanding in his first year attending Model UN. Dedicated to excellence and constantly learning, he developed outstanding relationships with other delegates and impressed his committee with both his knowledge and his articulation skills. Overall, he was one of the top first-time delegates, and we look forward to continued excellence from him at Harvard next month.”