About Us
William and Mary High School Model United Nations (WMHSMUN) is a student-run conference hosted by undergraduate students at William & Mary in Williamsburg, VA. Since its inception 38 years ago, the conference has been continuously recognized as one of the best Model United Nations conferences for high schoolers in the nation by Best Delegate and All-American MUN.
From seasoned Model UN veterans to new members of the International Relations Club at William & Mary, WMHSMUN staffers are dedicated to Model UN. The International Relations Club organizes three conferences each academic year: WMHSMUN, our high school conference, WMIDMUN, our middle school conference, and &MUN, our college conference. IRC also sponsors an award-winning travel team that competes in college-level conferences around the United States and around the world.
Williamsburg, Virginia, conduces the perfect environment for a weekend of debate, collaboration, and learning. Just across the street from campus is Colonial Williamsburg, a completely restored living history museum of the former colonial capital. Along with Jamestown, home of the first permanent English settlement in North America, and Yorktown, site of the battle that ended the Revolutionary War, Williamsburg forms the third leg of America’s Historic Triangle.
William & Mary was founded in 1693 by King William III of Orange and Queen Mary II of England, making it the second-oldest institution of higher education in the United States. Home to the oldest academic building in the country still in use today, known as the Wren Building, William & Mary is known not only for its historic campus, but also for its rigorous academics.
While many members of the International Relations Club have majors in a program recognized by Foreign Policy Magazine, there is a wide variety of majors represented throughout the WMHSMUN staff, from STEM to liberal arts to social sciences. William & Mary prides itself on offering something for everyone- our university, a Public Ivy, has constantly been recognized for its undergraduate teaching, innovation, value, inclusivity, engagement, research and more. William & Mary’s motto is “those who come here, belong here.” As a guest of the W&M community, you can expect that WMHSMUN will welcome your delegation with open arms and provide a premier high school Model United Nations experience.
WMHSMUN Values
Diplomacy
To exemplify diplomacy, delegates must have the utmost respect for their fellow delegates and dais, engage in compromise, and handle committee proceedings with effectiveness and due sensitivity.
Substance
Delegates should understand that the topics at hand are real issues for real people around the world. Not only should delegates be well-researched, but they also must assume their roles faithfully and treat the serious topics with the maturity that they deserve.
Empowerment
Through sharpening debate skills and practicing resolution writing, delegates should treat our conference as an opportunity for growth. Delegates should strive to foster a welcoming and productive environment by listening actively, thinking critically, and responding sensitively.
Service @ WMHSMUN
As part of the International Relations Club’s efforts to be compassionate, global citizens advancing international relations in all areas, the IRC@WM partners with a different international charity each year and holds fundraising initiatives throughout the school year to support the organization. During the 2024-2025 academic year, the club has opted to work directly with The Avalon Center, a regional nonprofit dedicated to ending sexual and domestic violence through breaking the cycle of
At WMHSMUN, you, too, can be part of our efforts to support The Avalon Center! The service branch of the IRC, called IRCares, will lead several initiatives throughout the conference weekend, and we invite you to donate or participate if you feel moved to do so. More information about Service at WMHSMUN will be posted soon, and we look forward to working with all of you to carry out our mission!
If you have any questions about IRCares or what Service will look like at WMHSMUN, please feel free to reach out to our Service Chair Lauren Creed (service@wmirc.org). Any logistical questions may also be directed to Registration Director Mona Garimella (registration@wmhsmun.org).
Land Acknowledgement:
WMHSMUN would like to emphasize the ownership of the land on which our campus operates. William & Mary acknowledges the Indigenous peoples who are the original inhabitants of the lands our campus is on today – the Cheroenhaka (Nottoway), Chickahominy, Eastern Chickahominy, Mattaponi, Monacan, Nansemond, Nottoway, Pamunkey, Patawomeck, Upper Mattaponi, and Rappahannock tribes – and pay our respect to their tribal members past and present.