Model UN Returns from New York with Honors

Model UN advisors Bill McGinty and Amy Enright took a group of 14 students to Columbia University in New York, N.Y., from Jan. 17-20 for a four-day conference—and the trip was a resounding success for the Rivers team, which returned with several honors.

The Rivers delegates spent about nine hours per day in committee sessions, and they represented everything from the World Health Organization, to Battlestar Galactica's Planet Picon, to the Boston Red Sox front office.

McGinty said this team was Rivers' strongest yet, evidenced by the three honors it received.

The highlight of the weekend was the performance of Sam Berger ’13, who took home the Best Delegate award—the highest honor available—for his committee's work on the Red Sox front office.

"Berger went into his committee as the Senior Advisor to the CEO of the Red Sox, with their goal being the rebuilding of the Red Sox in the 2013 season," McGinty said. "He worked incredibly hard to make deals and bring his character to prominence in the group. By the time he was done, he had single-handedly sold the team to [Dallas Mavericks owner] Mark Cuban for $800 million."

Marissa Birne ’15 won a verbal commendation for her work on the World Health Organization (Switzerland), which dealt with issues such as vaccination and access to clean drinking water, according to McGinty.

Sam Stulin ’14 received the same honor for his work on the Battlestar Galactica committee, in which he attempted to take over the galaxy using military force.