MOUNT OLIVE – The University of Mount Olive showcased its commitment to academic excellence and ethical reasoning at the 2025 North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities (NCICU) Ethics Bowl.
Held in early February at the NC Legislative Complex in Raleigh, this year’s theme was “Ethics in Health & Wellness.”
UMO’s Ethics Bowl team included returning members Katie Broom, a junior cybersecurity major from Houston, TX, and Will Worley, a senior accounting major from Princeton.
The remaining team members were first-time participants. They were: Jalen Branch, a senior business management major from Goldsboro,; Christian Chavez-Ramirez, a junior business management and accounting major from Pink Hill; Reece Gery, a freshman exercise science major from Goldsboro; Kendal Snowe, a sophomore business management major from Swansboro; and Kayleigh Snowe, a sophomore Christian studies major from Swansboro.
The team prepared rigorously, meeting weekly throughout the fall 2024 semester and intensified their sessions leading up to the competition.
Adam Garfinkel, Assistant Professor of Business Management and faculty mentor for the Ethics Bowl team, expressed pride in the students’ dedication.
“Ethics Bowl preparation is more than memorizing case studies and ethical perspectives,” Garfinkel said. “Through their participation, our students cultivate critical thinking skills to evaluate ethical dilemmas, consider differing perspectives, and engage in thoughtful and deliberate dialogue to reach well-reasoned conclusions.”
This year’s Ethics Bowl featured 20 teams from 19 universities, with UMO also contributing two students, Kayleigh Snowe and Will Worley, to a collaborative “Team NCICU” alongside Campbell University.
According to Garfinkel, UMO’s team had an impressive performance, securing victories against Queens University of Charlotte, Methodist University, and Guilford College after an initial loss to Wingate University.
UMO was the only team to defeat the reigning champions, Queens University of Charlotte.
Despite finishing with a commendable 3-1 record, UMO narrowly missed advancing to the semifinals.
The Ethics Bowl provides students with invaluable skills that extend beyond competition.
Participants develop public speaking abilities, enhance their moral decision-making, and learn to engage in constructive discourse.
“Proactively considering thoughtful objections and differing opinions fosters humility, humanizes opposing viewpoints, and encourages reconciliation — skills essential for leadership, business, and civic engagement.” said Dr. Paul F. Cwik, Professor of Economics and faculty mentor for the Ethics Bowl team.
