On January 9th and 10th, 2026, FM’s Model UN club hosted the Central New York Model United Nations (CNYMUN) conference at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. This was the 43rd time that the club had hosted this conference, and it was a marvelous display of the talent and hard work of one of FM’s largest clubs.
CNYMUN 2026 was the largest CNYMUN in history, hosting nearly a thousand delegates. Delegates hailed from schools as close as Manlius Pebble Hill and Jamesville-Dewitt, as well as schools as far away as Monte Nabor Nazaret in Ecuador. CNYMUN is the largest public high school-run conference in the United States.
CNYMUN was staffed mainly by F-M students, although there were a few guest staff members from JD and MPH. Some students chaired committees, and others served as crisis staffers and secretariat members. Some upperclassmen also served on executive staff, overseeing multiple committees and ensuring the conference ran smoothly.
The conference began with opening remarks in SU’s Hendricks Chapel from co-Secretary Generals Noya Amjad and Meilissa McLain, as well as Chef de Cabinet Griffin Pienkowski. The three students presented the theme: “Forging Unity in a Fragmented World.” The keynote speaker was Ms. Elizabeth Dunbar, director and CEO of the Everson Museum of Art. She gave an insightful speech into how art plays into international relations and forging unity. This speech further connected to the conference charities, the International Committee of Artists for Peace and the Everson Museum of Art. Throughout the day, committees were able to raise money for these charities through activities such as jar wars and buying flower slips.
The conference then began. Students dispersed to their individual committees. Some students were fighting as communists or nationalists in the Chinese Civil War joint crisis committee. Other students debated topics such as refugee housing in Eastern Europe or AI in healthcare in the General Assembly and Economic and Social committees. Students were assigned individual countries/positions to represent, which they researched in preparation for the conference. Many of the committees also featured guest speakers, many of whom were professors at nearby universities.
For meals, delegates were able to go down to Syracuse’s famous Marshall Street. Students enjoyed delicious acai bowls, sushi, and more while bonding with other students from different schools.
The conference finally concluded with closing remarks from all of the members of executive staff, as well as an awards ceremony in which the best performing delegates received awards for their performance. Finally, a delegate raised their hand and said, “Motion to end CNYMUN 2026.” With that, yet another wonderful CNYMUN conference ended.
