OSU Ethics Bowl Team wins regional competition, qualifies for nationals

Monday, December 19, 2022

Media Contact: Elizabeth Gosney | CAS Marketing and Communications Manager | 405-744-7497 | egosney@okstate.edu

Oklahoma State University’s Ethics Bowl Team won the regional competition at Texas A&M University-San Antonio on Nov. 12 and qualified for the national competition on March 4-5 in Portland, Oregon.

The team has maintained recent success, as this marks the third year in a row they've won regionals and the fourth out of five years they’ve qualified for the national competition. Two years ago, the team placed in the top eight in the nation.

Students who compete on the Ethics Bowl Team are part of the Ethics Club that the Department of Philosophy sponsors. 

“Interacting with and supporting our Ethics Bowl team is one of my favorite activities,” said Department of Philosophy Head Dr. Scott Gelfand. “The team members discuss a variety of complicated and interesting issues. They frequently disagree with one another, but they’ve learned how to disagree in a respectful way and a way in which they can share their ideas and maybe arrive at a position they can all support.”

Daniel Trippett is the team’s coach and a lecturer in the Department of Philosophy. Trippett explained that OSU sent both the first-place Ethics Bowl team and a freshmen team. 

Members of the first-place team include Parker Plank (computer engineering and philosophy - Tulsa), Samuel Sibley (mechanical engineering - Tulsa), Reese Jackson (zoology and biology - Fort Worth, Texas) and Eric Landin (English and philosophy - Tulsa).

Members of the freshmen team include Colin Udall, Caleb Dorsten, Spencer Terry, Ethan Jennings and Michael Clark. 

“They develop deep friendships, and they learn skills that are important in college, graduate school and the job market, including working as a team and articulating complex ideas in a clear manner,” Gelfand said. “And, of course, as they discuss the different issues, they hone their critical reasoning skills.”

The cost associated with traveling to regional and national competitions is significant for the Department of Philosophy. Please donate here to help the Ethics Bowl Team with their expenses.

Story By: Kelli Leech, CAS graduate assistant | kelli.leech@okstate.edu