Hillsborough’s debate team competed at the Rutgers University Model United Nations (RUMUN 2025) in New Brunswick from Nov. 20 to Nov. 23. Throughout the conference students were referred to as delegates where they represented a country and must come up with solutions for global issues (historical or ongoing) by writing resolutions, negotiating, and forming alliances with other leaders. Model UN provides students with the opportunity to enhance necessary leadership qualities such as public speaking and conflict resolution while being in a diplomatic setting.
The groups discussed various topics competing in general assembly committees, advanced committees, and specialized agencies. Hillsborough won delegate recognition awards in: Colombian Cabinet (1990), United Nations Office on Drugs & Crime (UNODC), Special Political and Decolonization Committee (SPECPOL), and Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Committee (SOCHUM).
“There were many well earned individual awards and it was clear that everyone put a lot of effort into preparing,” said junior Annika Lambert-Smith. “I can’t wait for future trips with this great group of people.”
Sophomores Avnee Arora and Siddhu Nagarajan, and juniors Aditi Polamuri, Aryan Arora, Daniel Shapiro, Lia LaValva, Napur Bhasar, and Pranet Godavarty are a few students that presented themselves most knowledgeable, most prepared and most active during their speaking times. Gavels and certificates were awarded to these delegates by the judges of the conference as a recognition of their dedication.
“The biggest factor that made Hillsborough different from other [schools] was how our club focused so heavily on diplomacy and civic discourse,” said junior Robert Lombardo.
The Outstanding Medium Delegation Award is the overall acknowledgement that Hillsborough received for ranking the highest in each respective committee for all members. Students did this by breaking through comfort barriers and persevering. This is the club’s first time winning best delegation in several years.
“The advisors of the club are incredibly proud of our team, not only for their oratorical skills, but their impeccable character,” said club advisor Robert Fenster.
When speaking with the board members they mentioned that the club has become more diverse in the past few years. Primarily focusing on maintaining the type of environment where every student will feel welcome and respected. “We have reached a majority female membership and it was especially heartening to hear since public speaking clubs have historically been male-dominated along with having a reputation of being toxic or too intense,” Polamuri said.
“This trip was an incredible success and I am beyond proud of all of its members, who I know went above and beyond their comfort zones to represent Hillsborough High School in a bold, exciting and honorable way,” Polamuri added.
