Ethics Bowl Team Earns Fifth Consecutive Final Four Finish

February 21, 2026

For the fifth consecutive year of competition, Montreat College’s Ethics Bowl debate team advanced to the semifinals of the North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities (NCICU) Ethics Bowl. Focusing on the theme “Ethics in Health and Wellness,” the 14th annual event took place on February 7-8, 2026, at the North Carolina Legislative Complex in Raleigh.

The two-day competition featured 19 teams from NCICU member institutions. Students engaged in complex case studies involving various aspects of health and wellness before presenting arguments to a panel of judges. Montreat College cruised through the preliminary rounds with a flawless 4-0 record, the only team to reach the semifinals undefeated. In the final four, Montreat faced Queens University of Charlotte, who went on to claim their third consecutive title by defeating William Peace University in the championship round.

“Reaching the semifinals for five consecutive years is a testament to our students’ dedication and the college’s commitment to academic excellence,” said Dr. Mark A. Wells, Montreat’s Ethics Bowl coach. “Montreat’s approach to answering the case study prompts was informed by our Christian worldview.  We made use of Jesus’ words in some cases and showed how, if followed, they could benefit the world and help answer the underlying moral issues within each case.”

This year’s Montreat College Ethics Bowl team included Ben Auten, Daniel Bussey, Juliana Doyle, Garrett Rice, and Elizabeth Parris. Brooke Kennedy was also a team member but was unable to compete due to a concussion.

“I was impressed with all the teams,” NCICU President Hope Williams said in the organization’s official press release. “It was evident that they were well-prepared and had developed extensive research on the complex topics. The campus coordinators ensured that their students had developed well-organized, cohesive arguments to present to the judges.”

Beyond the debates, students had the opportunity to engage with over 60 professionals who volunteered as judges and moderators, representing diverse fields such as law, architecture, engineering, healthcare, banking, nonprofits, and state agencies. These interactions provided valuable networking experiences and insights into various career paths.

Kody Kinsley, former secretary of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, delivered the keynote address. He highlighted the collaborative efforts of North Carolina’s government branches to enhance healthcare access and reflected on how his education at an independent college laid the foundation for his career in public service.