NEWS

The Lehigh University community gathered on Friday, October 24, to celebrate two birthdays - the founding of the United Nations 80 years ago, and the 21st anniversary of the Lehigh University/United Nations Partnership. 

The event, hosted by the Lehigh University/UN Partnership, brought together over 150 students, faculty, and staff to commemorate more than two decades of student engagement with the UN.

The celebration transformed the Business Innovation Building into a globally themed party. Blue and gold balloons, streamers, and “Happy 21st Birthday” décor filled the space. There were more than just decorations filling the building, though. Guests were greeted with an international spread of snacks representing six UN Missions that Lehigh students have visited through the UN Partnership, as well as cake.

Tables representing India, the United Kingdom, Panama, South Korea, Canada, and Germany offered cultural treats from each nation, like Khatta Meetha crackers from India, Jaffa Cakes from the UK, plantain chips from Panama, maple syrup cookies from Canada, and German Haribo gummy bears. Each station was decorated with the respective national flag and trivia questions for visitors. 

Beyond the food, the event showcased over 20 tables, featuring student organizations such as Lehigh Student Senate, the United Nations Association at Lehigh, the LU/UN Youth Representative program, and the World Affairs Club, as well as sustainability initiatives like Greening the UN. The celebratory theme carried throughout the event, including a photo booth decked out with props, tinsel, and balloons, where students snapped pictures to mark the occasion.

Demi Moore ‘27, in the College of Arts and Sciences, represented her NGO, The Center for Women’s Studies and Intervention, at the event. She described her experience with the Partnership, saying, “Getting my UN badge for the first time, going to UN headquarters, and getting to represent my NGO is such a magical experience.”  Furthermore, she said on her experiences through her position, “Getting to see, learn, and really feel the impact of these organizations at the UN, all while being an undergraduate student at Lehigh, has been valuable beyond words.”

The Lehigh/UN Partnership, founded in 2004, was the sixth university in the world to affiliate as a non-governmental organization at the UN Through this, thousands of Lehigh students have participated in UN briefings, conferences, and internships, gaining firsthand experience in international affairs and diplomacy. UN Day served as both a commemoration of that legacy and an invitation for new students to get involved.

Throughout the afternoon, the lobby buzzed with conversations about international issues, sustainability, and how to get involved in the Partnership. Executive members from student clubs and Youth Representatives shared stories of their service at the UN and their hopes for the next generation of Lehigh students who will continue the university’s global engagement. 

The event attracted many interested first-year students, as it was a university-accredited 5x10. First-years had the opportunity to explore the plethora of student organizations, NGOs, and country tables through paper passports handed out at the door. Students needed 12 separate “stamps” on their passports of all types of tables to be entered into a raffle to win a free trip to the United Nations this semester. 

One first-year student, Elias Lowrey ‘29, in the College of Arts and Sciences, was excited to learn more about the Partnership through the event. Saying, “The event has been interesting. It has shown the reach of the LU/UN Partnership here and the kind of good work it is doing.”

As the celebration concluded, students gathered around the cake table to grab celebratory slices, recognizing 21 years of Lehigh taking a center spot on the world’s stage.

The event aimed to celebrate just how global Lehigh’s reach truly is, now as it enters its third decade of the Partnership, this one with recently granted ECOSOC status. Looking ahead to the future of the Partnership, as well as its rich history, it seems there is a lot worth celebrating.