Cincinnati Ethics Center hosts annual high school competition

Cincinnati Ethics Center hosts annual high school competition

Event has grown to one of the largest high school ethics bowl matches of its kind

The Cincinnati Ethics Center will host the fourth annual Greater Cincinnati Regional High School Ethics Bowl Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 24-25, at the University of Cincinnati.

Multiple sessions designed to test the ethical reasoning skills of high school students will be held in UC's Carl H. Lindner College of Business and the UC College of Law. Sessions on Saturday, Jan. 24, will run from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. both at Lindner College of Business and UC Law. Sessions on Sunday, Jan. 25, will run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will be held in Lindner only.

Unlike traditional debate formats, the ethics bowl emphasizes thoughtful dialogue and ethical analysis rather than winning an argument. Students work collaboratively to examine real-world moral dilemmas, listen carefully to opposing viewpoints and refine their positions through respectful exchange. Teams are evaluated on clarity of reasoning, depth of analysis, responsiveness and intellectual humility.

"In just four years, this competition has seen incredible growth," said Andrew Cullison, executive director of the Cincinnati Ethics Center. "I am so grateful for all of the support we receive to provide students with the opportunity to practice moral reasoning, civil discourse and collaborative problem-solving."

High school students from Butler Tech huddle at a previous Ethics Bowl competition. Photo provided.

Ethics center officials say the 2026 ethics bowl will host students from 24 schools competing on 40 teams. That expansion reflects the program's momentum and places it second nationally in total school participation behind a regional competition in California.

"This year's expansion into two buildings reflects the incredible enthusiasm of our participants," said Christina Baulch, director of K-12 educational programs. "We are especially proud that the competition brings together a wide range of students from across the region, including, this year, a community-based team and our second vocational school, demonstrating the value of ethics education in any learning environment."

On Saturday, Jan. 24, all 40 teams will compete in four preliminary rounds. The schools with the top eight scores will advance to elimination rounds on Sunday, Jan. 25, culminating in a championship match that determines which teams earn advancement opportunities within the National High School Ethics Bowl network.

This year's event also marks several important milestones. For the first time, a community-based organization, the Boys & Girls Club of West Chester, Ohio, has registered a team, signaling the growing accessibility beyond traditional school settings. In addition, Scarlet Oaks Career Campus, a career and job training school in Cincinnati, will compete as the region's second vocational school, further broadening participation across educational pathways.

The Greater Cincinnati Regional High School Ethics Bowl is made possible through the support of a large corps of volunteers, including UC faculty, staff, alumni and community professionals who serve as judges, moderators and room assistants throughout the weekend.

Featured top image of a team of students from Cincinnati's Walnut Hills High School holding discussions during a previous ethics bowl match. Photo provided.

A team from Shroder High School in Cincinnati discusses strategy at a previous ethics bowl match. Photo provided.

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