College of Idaho Model UN Team Earns Distinguished Delegation Award at 2026 NMUN Conference

The College of Idaho Model United Nations team earned a Distinguished Delegation Award at the 2026 National Model United Nations (NMUN) Conference, held March 29–April 2 in New York City. The honor was presented during Closing Ceremonies in the United Nations General Assembly Hall, recognizing the team’s outstanding performance representing Bulgaria at one of the largest and most prestigious Model UN conferences in the world.

To win a Distinguished Delegation Award is highly competitive, requiring teams to demonstrate consistent excellence across multiple committees. The College of Idaho’s continued success underscores the strength and depth of its Model UN program. Since 2008, the College has received a delegation award every year except two, reflecting a long-standing tradition of achievement on the international stage.

The NMUN-New York conference brought together approximately 2,700 students from 150 colleges and universities across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas, offering participants a global platform to engage in diplomacy, debate, and international problem-solving.

Two College of Idaho delegates, Zaynab El Hakour and Aayush Shrestha, received additional distinction as they were selected to serve as chairs for two of the conference’s sixteen committees. Their leadership role reflects both their expertise and the high level of preparation demonstrated by C of I students.

Adding to the College’s strong presence at the conference, alum Courtney Indart (’15) served as Secretary-General, leading the entire NMUN-New York conference. Indart’s selection to this prestigious role is a significant honor and highlights The College of Idaho’s respected reputation within the global Model UN community.

C of I alumni and College leadership also gathered to celebrate the team’s success at a special alumni event hosted in New York City. Just prior to the end of the conference, Akshay Kulkarni (’05) and his wife, Sarah, graciously hosted an alumni event at their Tribeca home in honor of the delegates. Attendees included CEO Doug Brigham (’87), Vice President of College Relations Jack Cafferty (’97), and alum Josh Andersen (’22), who joined current delegates in recognizing the achievement and supporting the program.

The College of Idaho delegation included:

• Zaynab El Hakour (Head Delegate, Chair, Peacebuilding Commission, PBC)
• Aayush Shrestha (Chair, ECOSOC)
• Silipa Swai (General Assembly 1st Committee)
• Abigail Fremd (General Assembly 1st Committee)
• Melissa Prolaz (General Assembly 2nd Committee)
• Shannen Muchemwa (General Assembly 2nd Committee)
• Shae Kingery (General Assembly 3rd Committee)
• Arlette Kagaba (Human Rights Council)
• Dahlia Rhoads (Human Rights Council)
• Matti Eikenes (Non-Proliferation Treaty)
• Elijah Zimmerman (Non-Proliferation Treaty)
• Christian Benishek (United Nations Environment Assembly)
• Ronish Acharya (United Nations Environment Assembly)
• Rabin Kalikote (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees)
• Shuba Singh (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees)

The Distinguished Delegation Award recognizes teams that demonstrate excellence in diplomacy, collaboration, and understanding of international relations throughout the conference.

The College of Idaho’s continued success at NMUN reflects its commitment to experiential learning, global engagement, and preparing students for leadership roles in an interconnected world.

For more information about the National Model United Nations Conference—and to see Courtney Indart’s role as Secretary-General—visit:
https://www.nmun.org/conferences/new-york.html