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Virginia Wesleyan Students to Deliberate 'Ethics and Higher Education'
The Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges' collegiate Ethics Bowl takes place February 9-10
University News | February 6, 2020
Four students from Virginia Wesleyan University will participate in the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges’ (VFIC) 21st annual statewide collegiate Wells Fargo Ethics Bowl on February 9-10 on the University of Lynchburg campus.
Anitra Howard ’22, Katy Niedzwiecki ’22, Alex Powers ’21, and Criofan Shaw '23 will compete against other highly qualified student teams from Virginia’s 15 leading independent colleges and universities, deliberating a variety of case studies highlighting “Ethics and Higher Education.” Professor of Communication Kathy Merlock Jackson serves as faculty coordinator for the VWU team.
The VFIC Ethics Bowl program was first conceptualized in 1997 by the VFIC Ethics Task Force, co-chaired by Roger Mudd, History Channel - Journalist (retired) and VFIC trustee, and Phillip Stone, President of Bridgewater College (1994-2010). The mission of the task force was to explore opportunities to involve students at the 15 VFIC colleges in the lively debate and consideration of applied ethics—real world dilemmas that affect people's lives in increasingly complex ways.
Virginia Wesleyan won the very first VFIC Ethics Bowl in 2000, deliberating the topic of “Ethics and Society.” The VWU team was awarded runner-up in 2014, deliberating on the topic of “Ethics and Health Care,” and again earned runner-up in 2019 on the topic of “Ethics and Social Justice.” The University served as host site for the event in 2005, 2011, and 2017.
Founded in 1952, the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges is a nonprofit fund-raising partnership supporting the programs and students of 15 leading independent colleges in the Commonwealth: Bridgewater College, Emory & Henry College, Hampden-Sydney College, Hollins University, Mary Baldwin University, Marymount University, Randolph College, Randolph-Macon College, Roanoke College, Shenandoah University, Sweet Briar College, University of Lynchburg, University of Richmond, Virginia Wesleyan University, and Washington & Lee University.