From Monarchs to Secretary Generals to Hollywood actors, lots of successful and influential people took part in MUN when in High School. For some MUN inspiration in the run-up to OxfordMUN 2020, we've compiled a list of famous people who took part in Model United Nations as students.
Ban Ki-moon
Former Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon began his United Nations career as a High School MUN conference delegate. Speaking to a global MUN conference, Ki-moon told the students: “I participated in UN-style debate when I was a college student. So you never know where this conference might lead. You could end up as Secretary-General of the United Nations, or maybe your country’s UN ambassador.” For a career in the United Nations, there is no better training on offer than at a MUN conference.
Rainn Wilson
The actor best known for playing beet farmer and Dunder Mifflin Paper Company salesman Dwight Schrute on The Office, was also an avid MUN participant whilst in High School. In a 2010 interview, Wilson told USA Today that he was a self-proclaimed "Model United Nations Nerd" as a child.
Stephen M. Schwebel
Former judge and president of the International Court of Justice (ICC), Stephen Schwebel started his career with the United Nations as a MUN delegate like any other. Having first got involved with MUN during High School, he later participated in the founding of the United Nations Council of Harvard when studying towards his Bachelor's degree at the university.
Chelsea Clinton
Chelsea Clinton, American author and global health advocate, best known as the former first daughter of the United States, took part in Model United Nations in her teens. In 2017, Clinton tweeted: "I loved Model UN & was a proud member of our high school team for 3 years".
Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands
Model United Nations attracts students from all walks of life, and no delegate serves as a better example than Willem-Alexander, the reigning King of the Netherlands. In 1983, at the 15th THIMUN conference at The Hague, Willem-Alexander attended as a delegate, whilst his mother, HM Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands also attended the event as the keynote speaker.