Letter from the Secretary-General
Dear Delegates, Faculty Advisors, and Honored Guests,
It is my great pleasure to welcome you to the inaugural Ardsley Model United Nations Conference!
My name is Shrinand Patnaik, and I have the privilege of serving as Secretary-General of AMUNC I. I am currently a senior at Ardsley High School, where Model United Nations has become one of the most important parts of my high school experience. Outside of MUN, I am involved in music, student leadership, and service, and I have a strong interest in government, international affairs, and public service. After high school, I hope to continue studying these subjects and ultimately pursue a career in the US Armed Forces.
When I first became involved in Model UN, I was drawn to the competition and the opportunity to debate issues I cared about. Over time, however, MUN became about much more than winning awards. Some of my favorite memories have come from meeting people I otherwise never would have known, working with delegates who completely disagreed with me, and watching a room full of competing ideas slowly turn into a solution everyone had a hand in creating. MUN has taught me that leadership is not simply about being the loudest person in a room; it is about listening, bringing people together, and helping others find the confidence to contribute.
That philosophy has shaped how our team has approached building AMUNC. When we began planning this conference, we did not want to create an event where experienced delegates dominated debate while newer delegates sat quietly in the back of the room. We wanted to create a conference that was challenging and competitive while remaining welcoming to delegates of every experience level. Whether this is your first conference or your tenth, I hope you leave Ardsley having taken a risk, met someone new, considered a perspective different from your own, and become a little more confident in your ability to lead.
AMUNC I is particularly meaningful to me because it is our first conference. Everything you experience on December 5—from our committees and topics to our staff and programming—began as an idea among a group of students who believed Ardsley could build something of its own. I am incredibly grateful to our Secretariat, Dais, staff, faculty advisor, school community, and everyone else who has helped turn that idea into reality.
Most importantly, I am grateful to all of you for choosing to be part of our first year. By attending AMUNC I, you are helping establish the traditions and community that we hope future Ardsley delegates will inherit and continue to build.
International affairs can sometimes feel impossibly large. The problems discussed in Model UN involve billions of people, competing national interests, and conflicts that have persisted for generations. None of us will solve them in a single Saturday. But I believe there is value in learning how to sit across from someone with whom you disagree, listen seriously to their perspective, defend your own beliefs, find common ground, and work toward something better together. Those are skills that matter far beyond Model UN.
So speak up. Take risks. Introduce yourself to the delegate sitting next to you. Challenge ideas respectfully. Help someone else enter the conversation. And above all, enjoy the experience.
On behalf of the entire AMUNC I Secretariat and staff, welcome to Ardsley. I cannot wait to see what you accomplish.
Sincerely,
Shrinand D. Patnaik
Secretary-General, AMUNC I
Ardsley High School Class of 2027
Email: shrinandpatnaik@gmail.com
Phone: 914-491-9675
