Heidi Li ’26 and Madeline Scheidt ’26 were recently recognized for their work at Yale University’s 51st Model United Nations Conference (YMUN LI). Heidi earned Outstanding Delegate accolades for her work on the Titanic committee, while Madeline earned an Honorable Delegate nod for her work on the UNAIDS committee. They were among a select group of the event’s more than 1,800 delegates from 23 countries to be recognized for their committee work.

The Titanic committee considered several scenarios aboard the ill-fated ship.

“I represented Rhoda Abbott, a third-class passenger aboard the Titanic,” says Heidi. “Our first task was to solve a rising mutiny aboard the vessel.”

Their work continued deeper into the ship’s crisis, when the delegates had only three hours to save everyone aboard the ship before it sank completely.

“In the end, we passed directives which allowed every passenger to make it back to New York alive, including a directive to stop at Queenstown to gather more lifeboats in order to seat everyone aboard,” Heidi explains.

Established in 1996, UNAIDS is an international organization that leads and inspires global efforts to prevent new HIV infections, provide access to treatment, and end the stigma associated with the disease. Madeline’s committee focused on two essential topics: eliminating mother-to-child HIV transmission of HIV and eradicating stigma and discrimination against HIV/AIDS patients in healthcare.

“I represented Norway on the UNAIDS committee,” Madeline says. “I was a sponsor on both of my resolution papers where I collaborated with other delegates to form policies centered around affordable forms of treatment and prevention while emphasizing the necessity of education and destigmatization.”

YMUN LI was a four-day event focused on committee work, building connections, and taking advantage of Yale University and its resources. Yale Day, one of YMUN’s most beloved and important traditions, offered delegates the opportunity to learn from members of Yale’s most distinguished faculty, get to know the school through campus tours and events, and meet current Yale students. Emma Sky, founding director of Yale’s International Leadership Center, delivered the Yale Day keynote lecture, Building Peace from the Bottom Up.

Congratulations to Heidi, Madeline, and all 14 Taft YMUN LI delegates.

Model UN is a simulation of the United Nations General Assembly and its multilateral bodies. Student participants become UN delegates who, on various issue-based committees, represent their assigned countries’ policies or historical figures’ interests, and negotiate favorable resolutions. Students’ negotiation, diplomacy, public speaking, collaboration, and leadership skills are tested throughout the process, along with their knowledge and understanding of global issues and their impact.