As we head into spring break and our students scatter across the globe — returning to their home countries, cities, and vacation spots around the world — it feels fitting to celebrate one of this year's standout experiences. In February, Darlington sent a delegation to the Model United Nations (MUN) conference in Chicago, Ill., held Feb. 5-8, 2026, led by head MUN faculty advisor Sam Clark and supported by Syretta Massey and Jessica Laliberte.
What is the Model United Nations?
MUN is an educational simulation of the United Nations in which students research and represent assigned countries, debate global issues, and collaborate to find common ground. Participants build skills in public speaking, critical thinking, diplomacy, and cross-cultural communication — skills that extend far beyond the classroom and into every area of life.
Darlington's Delegation
Representing Darlington were Alexis Origbe, Annika Kuo, Caroline Sawhill, Emma Trieu, Jordan Dillard, Leila Brogdon, Mary Nguyen, and Melissa Babigumira, along with Cooper Laliberte, Eli Cheng, and Fucheng Li. These students spent weeks preparing — researching their assigned countries, studying global issues, and crafting position papers before heading to Chicago ready to engage.
What makes MUN particularly inspiring is that none of this work was done for a class or a grade. Students show up because they want to — taking the thinking, reasoning, writing, and speaking skills they've developed and applying them to real-world challenges they genuinely care about. That kind of intrinsic motivation is admirable.
With delegates representing schools from nearly all 50 states and countries around the world, the competition was fierce and the caliber of discussion extraordinary. We are especially proud to recognize those who stood out among their peers. Junior Cooper Laliberte earned a verbal commendation for his role in the Monsters, Mayhem, and Modernity Crisis Committee on Puerto Rico in 1995— a well-deserved recognition and a testament to the preparation and passion our students brought to Chicago.
She Speaks, the World Listens: Darlington Girls Lead the Way
What stood out most was the remarkable leadership of our female delegates. Eight of Darlington's eleven delegates were girls, and six of them are boarders who live, learn, and grow together every day on campus. Watching them in action was something special: making their case, shifting perspectives, and working to build consensus within a single session — all in pursuit of broader goals that matter beyond themselves. MUN brings authentic, real-world learning into full focus, and our girls embraced every moment of it.
Confident and deeply engaged, they left Chicago with new friendships, broader perspectives, and a stronger sense of their own voices. As they head home this spring break to countries and communities near and far, they carry with them something MUN makes beautifully clear — the world doesn't feel so far away when it's been sitting next to you all year.
A Launchpad for Life
Experiences like MUN are exactly why a Darlington boarding experience is unlike any other. If you are considering a boarding school for your daughter, Darlington should be at the top of your list. Here, we shape confident young women and launch them toward college and beyond — academically, personally, and globally. Our girl delegates didn't just attend a conference in Chicago; they walked into a room full of students from across the country and around the world and led discussions, shifted perspectives, and powerfully influenced those around them. That kind of confidence doesn't happen by accident. It is built here, every day, in the classroom, on the playing field, in the dorm, and on the world stage. Surrounded by caring teachers, coaches, and dorm staff, with friendships formed from across the country and around the world, the sense of community is truly unmatched.
We are incredibly proud of each student who represented Darlington in Chicago. You made your school, your families, and your community proud. Go Tigers!
