I had the honor of speaking at the closing ceremonies of our 30th Lincoln School Model United Nations. These are my words:
Good evening everyone,
Distinguished guests, delegates, advisors, chairs, organizers, and members of the Lincoln community. It’s an honor to stand with you tonight as we close the 30th Lincoln Model United Nations Conference.
As we gather here at the end of the conference, take a look around the room for a moment. Delegates packing up their notes, exchanging contact information, taking a few final photos together. The room has that quiet buzz that comes at the end of a meaningful experience: part celebration, part exhaustion, and part reflection.
Thirty years is a remarkable milestone for any student-led tradition. For three decades now, Lincoln students have gathered in committee rooms to debate global issues, represent perspectives that may not be their own, and wrestle with some of the most complicated challenges facing our world. Each year, a new group of students steps into this tradition, adding their voices to a conversation that began long before you arrived.
What struck me most over the course of this weekend was not simply the quality of the debate (though there was plenty of that) but the spirit with which you approached the work. In room after room, delegates leaned into something that our world needs now more than ever. You practiced dialogue instead of division, choosing conversation instead of conflict, and working toward collaboration instead of confrontation. You defended your ideas with evidence and conviction, but you also listened carefully to perspectives different from your own and looked for ways to move discussions forward.
Model United Nations is often described as a simulation, but the skills you practiced here are very real. You researched complex issues, analyzed multiple perspectives, and communicated your ideas clearly. Perhaps even more importantly, you learned something that many adults are still figuring out: that meaningful progress rarely comes from simply winning an argument. More often, progress emerges through patience, persistence, and a willingness to work with others toward shared solutions.
That spirit was evident throughout the conference. You were not simply competing for recognition; you were working together to understand difficult problems and imagine what progress might look like. Throughout the conference, delegates pursued solutions instead of shouting and chose progress instead of posturing, demonstrating the kind of thoughtful leadership our global community desperately needs.
As we close tonight, I also find myself thinking about the students who participated in the very first Lincoln Model United Nations conference thirty years ago. Like you, they walked into committee rooms full of curiosity and conviction. They debated issues that were urgent in their time, just as you debated issues that are urgent in ours. The world has changed dramatically in those three decades, but the need for thoughtful dialogue, empathy, and collaboration has not. In fact, it may be more important today than ever before.
There is an African proverb that says, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” Model United Nations teaches students how to go far together. It gives you a space to practice listening across differences, building consensus, and imagining solutions that no single voice could create alone.
So congratulations to all of you: delegates, chairs, advisors, and student leaders, who made the 30th Lincoln Model United Nations Conference such a success. You honored a tradition that began long before you arrived, and you strengthened it for the students who will follow.
Thirty years from now, another group of students will gather for the 60th Lincoln Model United Nations Conference. When they do, they will be standing on the foundation that you helped carry forward this weekend. And after watching the way you engaged with one another over the past few days, I have every reason to believe that the future is in very good hands.
Thank you, and congratulations to all of you.
Garrenteed Learning 