By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City, Tenn.–Union City is a repeat winner in the West Tennessee Regional High School Ethics Bowl.
A group of UCHS students brought home the top prize for the second year in a row in the fourth annual competition, sponsored by the UT Martin Department of History and Philosophy and the UTM’s Honors Program.
Union City fielded two teams in the competition and went head-to-head with entries from Westview and Dresden.
The UC contingent of juniors Lucas Greer and Sarah Del Valle and sophomores Myranda Parr, Allyson Beaman, and Zoe Cox won first place in the WTREB event. They edged a second Union City team made up of Kate Schlager, Owen Rodgers, Reagan Durkee, Ella Palmer, Hannah Moon, and Trey Jackson in the semifinals.
The team of Greer, Parr, Beaman, Cox, and Moon also advanced to a one-round divisional playoff, where they were nudged by Maryville in a close competition with a berth in the nationals at stake.
The UCHS students practiced weekly, beginning in September until the late-January contest. They were given 15 cases for which they had to have presentations prepared.
Cases included:
- Challenging ethical questions about artificial intelligence
- Lowering the drinking age
- Joining sororities
- Charity
- Parental involvement in education
- The justice system
Students were unaware of which of the cases they would be presenting before the competition.
During the competition, the teams of students were required to share their presentation, respond to the other team’s presentation, and answer questions from both the other team and the judges.
Joanna Wisener, who again coached this year’s UC teams with an assist from Angelique Killebrew, spoke glowingly of her students’ preparation and performance.
“Our students were ready, and they were poised,” Wisener claimed. “They thoughtfully presented their ideas to challenging moral issues and carefully considered the viewpoints raised by the other competitors and judges.
“It is always encouraging to see the growth that takes place from our first practice to competition day in terms of their confidence and insight.
“Our students did a great job in both the regionals and the playoffs of addressing challenging issues in a thoughtful manner. We have eight team members who will return next year, so we will greatly benefit from the experience gained this year.”