RALEIGH, NC/Feb 10, 2026 – North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities (NCICU) celebrated an important milestone this weekend as student teams from across the state gathered at the North Carolina Legislative Complex for the 15th Annual Ethics Bowl. This year’s competition, centered on the theme “Ethics in Leadership,” culminated in a historic first as Johnson C. Smith University became the first Historically Black College/University (HBCU) to reach the finals and prevail as champion.
The JCSU debate team that snagged the prestigious title, includes several standout students: Marvin Brown, Holiness Mhlanga (captain), Alastair Park, Christian Smith, Jaslynn Vorachith. The students are celebrating this iconic moment.
“I looked at this historic win as a moment of progress for all students at JCSU. It reminds us that excellence lives here at 100 Beatties Ford Road. Hard work is being done here,” Brown said.
Holiness Mhlanga said, “I am still in shock from the win. I believe this year worked not because of effort but because of passion. Each of us connected on a more personal level. We didn’t see each other as teammates we saw each other as people. Because we saw each other as people, we appreciated the differences we all brought to the team. Through channeling all these differences is what made us a unique team.”
Holiness says the debate team may not be as highly regarded as other teams on campus. She hopes this championship win will change the tide.
The tide may be changing. Dr. Kendal Mobley, Professor of Religion, served as debate team advisor. Mobley said the JCSU team, “worked together since September, and each member of the team made crucial contributions to our victory – researching, suggesting rhetorical strategies, providing historical background, framing ethical arguments, and working as a team at the tournament to bring it all together.”
Mobley is proud of the team’s ability to pull together. “I am incredibly proud of the team and Holiness as our team captain. Marvin Brown is the only senior who is going to be graduating. Everyone else will return to the team. We should have a good chance to defend our title next year,” he said.
Dr. Laurie Porter - who wasn’t able to be on site but tracked the team’s progress from afar - served as long-time JCSU debate team advisor and led JCSU’s Ethics Bowl teams for more than a decade. She was overwhelmed by the victory.
“It’s unbelievable. It’s one of those things that since 13 or 14 years JCSU has been a force to be reckoned with. We always compete against Queens or High Point. We were always neck and neck. This year it was one of those things where they all pulled together,” Porter said. “We won the whole thing. It’s an historic moment. I don’t think people realize how long the students prepare. Winning is a big deal and a huge light for the school.”
The competition brought together 18 student teams for two days of arguments on their positions, on the cases, and critical analysis of complex ethical dilemmas. Final scores were tallied, semi-finalists were announced, and the two matches were set: NC Wesleyan University and Wingate University were paired, as were Catawba College and Johnson C. Smith University. NC Wesleyan met Johnson C. Smith in the final round.
“The Ethics Bowl is a showcase of the NCICU experience, and Johnson C. Smith’s outstanding team presentations during our 15th anniversary year were remarkable,” said NCICU President Dr. A. Hope Williams. “This event highlights the intellectual rigor and leadership potential across our 36 campuses. We are incredibly proud of all our participants for their ability to navigate difficult ethical landscapes with integrity, collaboration, and profound critical thinking.”
The event kicked off on Friday, February 6, 2026 and ran through February 7, 2026. An event highlight included an evening keynote address from North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction Mo Green. Drawing on his extensive career in public service, Superintendent Green shared personal experiences on the challenges to ethical leadership, encouraging students to maintain their core values throughout their professional journeys.
This year’s event also marked a technological leap for the competition. Supported by a capacity-building grant from the Council of Independent Colleges, NCICU implemented a digital scoring system, providing judges with tablets for real-time submission and faster tabulation of results.
The 15th anniversary also served as an opportunity to honor long-time supporters. NCICU recognized four individuals who have served as judges since the event's inception in 2012: Myra Best (Executive Director, digiLEARN), Mike Davis (Mike Davis Public Relations, Inc.), Brooks Raiford (NC Technology Association), and Jack Frost (Retired, Truist).
Additionally, NCICU recognized four campus coordinators for their service in this integral role since the Ethics Bowl's inception. Dr. Adam C. English and Dr. Ken Vandergriff of Campbell University, Dr. Amy MacArthur of High Point University, and Dr. Mark Wells of Montreat College celebrated their consistent years of service and dedication to the event, their campuses, and their students.
The success of the 2026 Ethics Bowl was made possible by the Independent College Fund of North Carolina (ICFNC), the fundraising arm of NCICU, which raised almost $80,000 in sponsorships. NCICU extends its deepest gratitude to the 2026 sponsors:
Aramark, BHDP, The Budd Group, Coca-Cola Consolidated, Cherry Bekaert, The Council of Independent Colleges, CPL, Duke Energy, Fortinet, French Broad Electric, Guilford College Center for Principled Problem Solving, Huntington National Bank, IMA Financial Group, Jesse and Kay McCartney, Mt. Olive Pickle Company, NFP, Old North State Trust, Piedmont Natural Gas Foundation, Liz and Steven Riley, Sageview, Truist Bank, A. Hope Williams, and the Wren Foundation.
Click here for more information about the annual NCICU Ethics Bowl and its history.
Click here to view the 2026 NCICU Ethics Bowl photo gallery.
