By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City, Tenn.–A team made up of six Union City High School students recently claimed first place in the third annual West Tennessee Regional Ethics Bowl.
Seniors Elizabeth Lattus, Lydia Runions, and Tai’Zhan Fuller, juniors Kate Schlager and Chloe Meade, and freshman Allyson Beaman combined to bring home top honors from the competition in the event that was hosted by UT Martin and judged by UTM professors.
The UCHS team defeated Westview in the championship round.
The competition challenges teams and students to choose a view of real-life ethical issues and defend that position while providing constructive criticism to other students.
They were scored on their abilities to discuss a variety of cases that included:
- Deep fake technology
- Paralympians being paid the same as Olympians
- The moral considerations of intervening to prevent the suffering of wild animals
“I am always impressed with our students’ ability to discuss the complex ethical issues,” said UC coach Joanna Wisener, who was assisted by fellow English teacher Angelique Killebrew. “The Ethics Bowl competition helps them develop as communicators who can think critically.
“They were poised in competition, doing especially well in answering the questions that the judges asked. They attentively listened to each other and considered all opinions before formulating their stance on the cases.”
A second team of students representing Union City High School also competed. The group included seniors Daniel Edwards, Arden Stanley, Ella Virgin, and Jordan Hernandez, sophomore Lucas Greer, and freshman Myranda Parr.
UC’s first-place team had a virtual playoff against Ann Arbor (Mich.) Huron High School for a national bid but came up just short. Lattus, Runions, Fuller, Schlager, and Meade all participated and discussed the ethics of predictive policing and objectivity in journalism.
Lattus, Runions, Edwards and Stanley were all part of the competition last year.