The History of the NCICU Ethics Bowl
Program Origins | Inaugural Competition | Leadership & Vision | Advisory Committee | Judges & Moderators | Founding Sponsors | Campus Coordinators
A Tradition of Integrity
The NCICU Ethics Bowl was established to provide a rigorous civil forum for students from North Carolina’s independent campuses to discuss complex moral dilemmas. Since its inception in 2012, the event has grown into a premier statewide competition, hosted annually at the North Carolina Legislative Complex in Raleigh. By bringing together student teams with leaders from the business, government, and nonprofit sectors, the Ethics Bowl fosters the critical thinking and ethical leadership necessary for the next generation of North Carolina’s workforce.
Program Origins and the FIHE Grant
The vision for a statewide ethics competition became a reality through a transformative $50,000 matching grant from the Foundation for Independent Higher Education (now known as the Council of Independent Colleges State Councils). This funding was awarded to implement a program that increases awareness and dialogue among independent college students and community leaders on the application of ethics in leadership, decision-making, and interpersonal relations.
The program was modeled on the academic “Quiz Bowl” format, but with a focus on case studies addressing contemporary ethical issues. The implementation followed a two-phase timeline:
- 2010-2011 (Inaugural Grant Year): Twenty-two institutions confirmed their participation and appointed campus coordinators. During this phase, program funding supported applied ethics projects on individual campuses, including guest speakers, debates, and team preparation.
- February 2012: The project culminated in the first weekend event of the annual statewide competition in Raleigh, NC.
The Inaugural 2012 Competition: “Ethics in the Workplace”
The first official NCICU Ethics Bowl took place on February 10-11, 2012, hosted by Meredith College in Raleigh, NC. Centered on the theme “Ethics in the Workplace,” the event was designed to foster social responsibility and accountability among students entering the professional world.
Fourteen institutions fielded teams of four to six students for the inaugural event:
- Campbell University
- Gardner-Webb University
- High Point University
- Livingstone College
- Mars Hill College
- Meredith College
- Methodist University
- Montreat College
- Mount Olive College
- St. Andrews University
- Salem College
- Shaw University
- Wake Forest University
- Wingate University
The competition concluded with a final round held in the Jones Chapel at Meredith College. Wake Forest University earned the 1st place trophy, with High Point University taking home 2nd place.
Leadership and Vision: The Statewide Coordinator
The Ethics Bowl’s foundational success is rooted in the leadership of Dr. Jesse F. McCartney, who served as the Statewide Coordinator for the event. A native Oklahoman and scholar of English and American Literature, Dr. McCartney brought decades of academic and administrative excellence to the role.
Prior to his work with NCICU, Dr. McCartney directed the writing program at the University of Southern Mississippi and the Center for the Improvement of Teaching and Learning at Ball State University. In 1982, he joined Catawba College, where he served in several executive roles, including Vice President for Administration and Planning, Dean of the College, and Provost, before retiring in 2007.
His vision for the Ethics Bowl was to create a “laboratory for learning” where students could apply philosophical theory to real-world leadership challenges. Beyond his administrative leadership, Dr. McCartney’s intellectual imprint was central to the competition; he personally authored the ethical case studies used by student teams for the first xxxx years of the program’s history.
Foundations of Excellence: The NCICU Ethics Bowl Advisory Committee
The strategic direction of the Ethics Bowl was shaped by a distinguished group of leaders from the corporate, legislative, and academic communities. This committee ensured the event would be grounded in real-world application and high professional standards.
- Nicole Brandon, Division Manager, UPS
- James E. Brown, Managing Director, Public & Institutional Banking, RBC Bank
- Jack M. Frost, Senior VP, BB&T
- Fletcher Hartsell, N.C. Senate, N.C. General Assembly
- Leslie Hayes, Regional President, Wells Fargo
- Anne Lloyd, Executive VP, CFO & Treasurer, Martin Marietta Materials
- Cynthia Marshall, President, AT&T North Carolina
- Deborah Ross, N.C. House of Representatives, N.C. General Assembly
- Delores Sides, Director of Corporate Communications & HR, ITG, Inc.
- Allen Stewart, Managing Director of Ethics & Compliance, Duke Energy
- Michael Thompson, Manager of State Affairs – N.C., Dominion North Carolina Power
- Jerry M. Wallace, President, Campbell University
- Thad Woodard, President & CEO, N.C. Bankers Association
The Founders’ Circle: Inaugural Judges and Moderators
We extend our deepest gratitude to the volunteers who served during the first NCICU Ethics Bowl in 2012. Their expertise and commitment to student mentorship established the professional standard that defines the competition today.
- Mary Linda Andrews, GlaxoSmithKline
- Juan Austin, Wells Fargo
- James Avett, College Foundation, Inc.
- Nathan Batts, N.C. Bankers Association
- Keri Bennington, UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School
- Myra Best, Office of the Governor
- Alison Bost, Womble Carlyle Sandridge and Rice
- Charles F. Bowman, Bank of America
- Nicole Brandon, UPS
- Trae Brookins, NCSEAA
- Rod Brooks, Stop Hunger Now
- Steven E. Brooks, NCSEAA
- James E. Brown, RBC Bank
- David Byerly, Bridgestone Americas Trust Fund
- Neal Conoley, N.C. Aquarium Society
- Britt Davis, Campbell University
- Mike Davis, Mike Davis Public Relations, Inc.
- John Drescher, The News and Observer
- Jack M. Frost, BB&T
- The Honorable Rick Glazier, N.C. House of Representatives
- Che-Che Harper, SERA, Inc.
- Steve Harrold, Fidelity Investments
- The Honorable Fletcher Hartsell, N.C. Senate
- Leslie Hayes, Wells Fargo
- Kendra Hill, Office of the Governor
- Monika Johnson Hostler, N.C. Coalition Against Sexual Assault
- Shera Hube, College Foundation, Inc.
- Thomas W. Lambeth, Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation
- Bryan Lewis, Department of State Treasurer
- Anne H. Lloyd, Martin Marietta Materials
- Cynthia Marshall, AT&T North Carolina
- Elizabeth D. Merritt, Cherokee Investment Partners
- John D. Merritt, Jr., Envirolink, Inc.
- Jane Smith Patterson, Jane Patterson Associates
- Charles Piper, BCWH Architecture
- Brooks Raiford, N.C. Technology Association
- Walter R. Rogers, Smith Anderson Blount Dorsett Mitchell and Jernigan
- The Honorable Deborah Ross, N.C. House of Representatives
- Delores Sides, International Textile Group, Inc.
- Marcus L. Smith, RBC Bank
- Allen Stewart, Duke Energy Corporation
- The Honorable Joe Tolson, N.C. House of Representatives
- Jaz Tunnell, Piedmont Natural Gas
- Leslie Walden, Fidelity Investments
- Thomas R. West, Poyner and Spruill
A Legacy of Support: The Founding Sponsors
The inaugural 2011-2012 Ethics Bowl was made possible through the visionary support of our cornerstone partners, who collectively provided $145,900 in funding to launch this statewide initiative. We remain deeply appreciative to our founding sponsors:
- Foundation for Independent Higher Education (FIHE)
- Wells Fargo Foundation
- Duke Energy NC
- AT&T NC
- UPS
- PNC Financial
- ITG, Inc./Burlington Industries Foundation
- Dominion
- BCWH Architecture
- Fidelity Investments
- Affinity LLC
- Martin Marietta Materials
- Piedmont Natural Gas
- George Foundation
The Founders’ Circle: Campus Coordinators
The Ethics Bowl’s longevity is a testament to the dedicated faculty members who serve as Campus Coordinators. We recognize the following individuals whose scholarship and mentorship have shaped the competition since its earliest years:
- Campbell University: Dr. Adam English and Dr. Ken Vandergriff
- Gardner-Webb University: Dr. Scott Shauf
- High Point University: Dr. Matthew Brophy and Dr. Amy MacArthur
- Mars Hill University: Dr. Barry Sharpe
- Meredith College: Dr. Jane Barnes, Steven Benko, Ph.D., and Cheryl Jenkins
- Methodist University: Dr. J. R. Hustwit
- Montreat College: Dr. Mark Wells
- University of Mount Olive: Professor Sonya O’Brien
- St. Andrews University: Professor Francis RTM Boyle
- Salem College: Professor Alyson Francisco
- Shaw University: Dr. Mary Morgan
- Wake Forest University: Professor Charles A. Lankau, III
- Wingate University: Dr. Edwin Bagley