From Feb. 5 to Feb. 8, 2026, members of Brighton High School’s Model United Nations club visited the University of Chicago for the thirty-eighth annual conference of MUNUC (Model United Nations of the University of Chicago). Participants simulated the activities of the United Nations by acting as delegates for one or more United Nations member states; for this year’s conference, Brighton represented Antigua and Barbuda, Djibouti and Kenya, among other entities. Students made their experience unique by joining one of thirty-one distinct committees, each exploring a wide array of real-world topics.
“[F]or my committee, we discussed the World Trade Organization and how to properly integrate developing countries into the changing digital climate,” junior Emory Srock said.
Though the event was designed to be serious, there were some lighthearted moments integrated into it, too. The latest iteration of the Ad Hoc Committee of the Secretary-General, a recurring committee that keeps its topic a secret until the start of each year’s conference, turned out to be a crisis committee studying cryptozoology, allowing for lots of good-natured fun.
“So my committee was kind of a joke committee, and it was called Ad Hoc. It was a crisis committee,” senior Delaney Mullally said. “I think the funniest thing that happened was our chair people and, like, the people running the back rooms dressed up as Bigfoot and did a massive line dance.”
MUNUC’s stated purpose includes promoting values of collaboration, cooperation and diplomacy, bringing together a wide variety of students from diverse backgrounds. It also seeks to educate students in valuable life skills, including negotiation, debate and public speaking; introduce students to the workings and potential of the UN; and prepare the next generation of globally-aware citizens and allow them to work towards solutions to persistent worldwide challenges. The event includes over 3,000 students and ranks as one of the most prominent high school Model UN conferences in the world.
When they were not busy running the world, students found plenty of time to forge connections and build friendships, becoming closer together through teamwork and companionship. From enduring traumatic events like the breakdown of their train to finding fun in the streets of Chicago by visiting the “Bean” and ice skating, the club was able to strengthen their bonds over the course of the four-day trip.
“I liked being able to bond with everyone else…who went to this trip because we were so close for all, like, three days when we weren’t in committee that it was really nice,” sophomore Kaitlyn Simon said.
For many Model UN delegates, the MUNUC conference is the highlight of the year; it provides an opportunity to meet new people, hone their skills and have fun. This year’s conference helped students grow in citizenship, cooperativity and connectivity. Most of all, delegates learn to be prepared.
After all, where else can one learn what to do in case of a surprise Bigfoot line dance?
