RALEIGH — Campbell University was well represented at the 2026 North Carolina Independent Colleges & Universities Ethics Bowl, where 18 private, independent colleges gathered for team debates at the North Carolina Legislative Building. Team coaches Adam English and Ken Vandergriff (both professors of Christian Studies) were recognized and honored by the NCICU as two of only four coaches who have participated in the annual competition since its inception 15 years ago.
Campbell fielded a four-person team that included Landon Green (accounting), Mackenzie Davis (communication studies), Wil Blackburn (economics) and Bella Segnere (Christian Studies) in this year’s competition, held Feb. 6-7. When, at the last minute, adverse winter weather conditions caused another team to withdraw, Vandergriff volunteered to coach and student Kai Horn (history) volunteered to anchor an additional team, Team NCICU, required to make an even number of teams for competition.
“Preparing for Ethics Bowl wasn’t easy,” said Segnere. “We spent the fall semester pouring into learning about each ethical framework that we could use, delving into each case over and over again, and even practicing how to speak well. Then in January, we met several more times to rehash everything and come up with a game plan.”
Horn added that, while practice and preparation did require effort, “I would not say it was ‘work,’ because much of it was so fun to talk through with teammates.”
Segnere agreed, “It didn’t feel at all like a chore since it was something I am passionate about.”
Students debated complex case studies related to the theme of “ethics in leadership.” Examples of case topics included corporate responsibility for product malfunction, managing school funding shortages and leadership decisions related to weapons of mass destruction. One timely case asked students to consider: “Is it ethical for the International Olympic committee to refuse to allow athletes from specific countries to compete in the Olympic Games based on their government’s actions?”
Campbell students not only competed at the event, they also served as event facilitators. Current political science pre-law students Anne AshLee Greene and Hannah Byers organized competition rooms and materials while three Campbell alums served as event logistics coordinators. Those alums were Alexis Thompson (’24), who currently works for NCICU as an administrative coordinator, along with recent graduates Aviel Eubanks (’25) and Jaylen Gardner (’24). They helped coordinate the movement of moderators, judges, coaches and teams of students throughout the competition.
When asked their favorite thing about Ethics Bowl, Horn spoke about the importance of “meeting students from other colleges who had similar interests with me.” He even had the opportunity to interact with Mo Green, North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction, plenary speaker for the event (pictured).
For Segnere, “My favorite part of Ethics Bowl was definitely the team bonding. I learned a lot about ethics and how to best debate them, but I also learned about my teammates, their opinions on the cases we discussed, and now we have dozens of inside jokes that we will remember for a long time.”
As for the coaches, Vandergriff and English said they see tremendous value in the experience.
“We watch student self-confidence blossom with the thrill of competition,” said English. “Students learn how to listen and respond to criticism, support and defend ideas and ultimately advocate for morally responsible solutions to complex problems. We have discovered that the opportunity for live debate in a room of judges, moderators and another team of students is not something that can be easily reproduced by AI or replaced by watching a video online. Students must think on their feet, stand and deliver and be present in the moment. They come away more energized for their vocational goals and more certain of their own abilities and gifts. And that makes it worth coming back every year.”
Campbell’s team travel expenses were sponsored this year by Old North State Trust and accounting firm Cherry Bekaert.
