Montreat College Places Top Four in the NCICU Ethics Bowl

February 14, 2026

Montreat College's Ethics Bowl squad earned a commendable fourth-place finish at the 12th Annual North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities (NCICU) Ethics Bowl, held recently.

The team maintained a perfect 4-0 record during initial rounds, defeating Gardner-Webb University, University of Mt. Olive, Queens University of Charlotte, and Chowan University. Their strong performance advanced them to the Semi-Final stage, where they faced Wingate University over the ethics implications of Russia's UN Security Council status. Despite a close contest, Montreat fell just short with a 3-2 decision margin.

This marks another outstanding achievement for Montreat College, which has secured four semi-finalist honors across five prior participations in this prestigious competition.

Dr. Mark Wells, philosophy and ethics professor, served as campus coordinator. Since 2006, Wells has contributed extensively to Montreat's academic community through teaching, coaching, and leadership roles including chair of the faculty executive committee.

Student competitors featured Grant Larsen (freshman), Daniel Bussey (sophomore), Samantha Franze (junior), Caprice Coffey (senior), and Christian Young (senior).

"The participants exhibited remarkable comprehension of nuanced ethical dilemmas," noted NCICU President Hope Williams. "Their thorough preparation and dedication to maintaining event integrity inspire confidence in their potential as ethical leaders."

The event drew sixteen North Carolina private college representatives at Raleigh's North Carolina Legislative Complex, featuring over sixty industry professionals serving as judges and moderators across two days.

Sponsored by Coca-Cola Consolidated, the NCICU Ethics Bowl continues to provide valuable educational opportunities at no cost to participating institutions.