At the 13th Cornell International Affairs Conference (CIAC) earlier this month, Clark’s Model United Nations team outcompeted all other universities that sent eight delegates or fewer and earned the Best Small Delegation Award. They won the most individual awards out of any small delegation in their respective committees and proved their diplomacy, leadership, and problem-solving prowess.

Representing Clark at the CIAC were Model U.N. members Borodine Chery ’26, Jonah Clark ’24, Tetrah Clark ’24, Mia Levine ’23, Allee McDonald ’23, Kai Moore ‘26, Malachy Taplin ’23, and Mai Le Vu ’26. Jonah Clark and Malachy Taplin each received the Best Delegate award, and freshman Mai Le Vu was awarded an Honorable Mention.

Jonah Clark says that the Best Delegate award was won through the combined efforts of the whole team. “Not a single individual award earned was done so without the input and encouragement of the rest of the CIAC squad and the home team back in Worcester,” he said. “This award was a celebration of the entire team’s effort and enthusiasm, reflected by the fact that despite only eight members being present, the Clark team cheered louder than any other university at the closing ceremony.”

Despite its relatively small size compared with other teams, Clark’s Model UN team has ranked within the top 20 North American schools for three consecutive years, including a number 9 position last year, the highest in the team’s history. These rankings are determined by Best Delegate’s Weighted Score Methodology, which measures the aggregate number and type of awards, competitiveness, and conferences attended by each university are measured.

With great performances this semester, the team’s leadership is optimistic for the fall semester and beyond. “Clark Model UN has always been the underdog that perseveres and upsets the competition, and I’m not surprised this trend has continued,” said team president Alec Hoffman ’23. “It’s great to see the team’s tenacity, hard work, and creativity really pay off and the new membership show so much potential. I also have to thank the university and the Political Science Department for their continued support of our endeavors. I’m so excited to see what’s in store for the future.”

Clark University Model United Nations is a student-run organization that serves Clarkies interested in political science, international relations, and history. The team is open to students of all majors and skills and offers opportunities to participate in hands-on learning, academic gatherings, and social events. Every year, the team travels to conferences hosted by schools such as Harvard University, Boston University, Georgetown University, McGill University, the University of Chicago, the University of California Berkeley, and the College of William and Mary. The team meets weekly on Tuesdays.