Albany, NY – Coming off successful performances at Princeton and UC Berkeley’s Model United Nations conferences, the Elmont Memorial High School Model United Nations team and the founder of the program, Mr. Lee Marcus, joined Assemblywoman Michaelle C. Solages in Albany to celebrate the 45th anniversary of Elmont Model United Nations. The team and Mr. Marcus were recognized on the New York State Assembly floor and in the New York State Senate. The group was also given a tour of the State Capitol building.

Lee Marcus was the inaugural advisor to the original team formed in 1978. A retired social studies teacher at Elmont Memorial, former New Hyde Park Social Studies Chairperson, and former Sewanhaka District Coordinator of Social Studies, Mr. Marcus was instrumental in making Elmont Model UN a world-renowned program.

The 2023-2024 Elmont Model UN team carries on the legacy of success begun under Mr. Marcus’ leadership, winning four awards this past fall at Princeton’s Model United Nations Conference and seven committee awards last month at UC Berkeley’s conference. This year also marks 30 years of the annual Lee Marcus Sewanhaka Intra-District Model UN Conference and the 20th anniversary of the Lee Marcus Model UN program at all elementary schools in the Elmont School District.

Assemblywoman Michaelle C. Solages: “It is a pleasure to welcome this elite group of students and Mr. Lee Marcus to the Capitol today. They represent the best of Elmont, putting together one of the world’s premier Model United Nations programs and consistently achieving at the highest level. Lee Marcus advised the first team in 1978, and since then, Elmont has won awards and commendations at conferences across the US and internationally. Elmont’s current Model UN team is no exception. They have demonstrated their ability to grasp and debate global issues of the utmost importance. I congratulate Lee Marcus and the team as they mark 45 years of Elmont Model UN.”