The Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges will honor University of Lynchburg President Dr. Kenneth R. Garren, a longtime co-chair of the VFIC’s Ethics Bowl Committee, in the 2020 Wells Fargo Ethics Bowl.
The University of Lynchburg will host the annual competition on February 9 and 10. The Sunday night dinner for contestants will highlight Garren as he prepares to retire after 19 years as president. He has co-chaired the Ethics Bowl Committee since 2005.
Garren said he has been involved with the event for so long because he believes a “moral compass” is a primary purpose of education.
“Upholding ethics is one of the best things we can do,” he said. “By focusing on ethics, we say, as a university and as VFIC, that ethics are important in education. Education gives people power, but ethics guide how they use that power.”
The competition includes students from 15 of Virginia’s independent colleges and universities. The 2020 Ethics Bowl theme is “Ethics and Higher Education,” with debates touching on topics like roommate relationships, college admissions, campus life, faculty responsibility, and more.
As the 2020 host, the University of Lynchburg will have two teams in the competition, both coached by Dr. Laura Kicklighter of the Westover Honors College.
The Ethics Bowl will begin on Sunday, February 9, at 2:30 p.m. in Sydnor Performance Hall in Schewel Hall. The first matches will begin at 3:30 p.m. in rooms throughout Schewel Hall. On Monday, February 10, rounds 3 and 4 will begin at 8:45 a.m. The final round of competition will take place at 11:20 a.m. in Sydnor Performance Hall in Schewel Hall. The winning team will be announced at 12:30 p.m.
The public is invited to attend the matches free of charge.
The event is made possible by financial support from Wells Fargo, which has (with its predecessor, Wachovia) been the signature sponsor since 2002.
“The Wells Fargo Ethics Bowl serves as a testament to the quality of not only VFIC students but also the schools in our consortium,” said Matt Shank, president of the VFIC. “Our 15 colleges and universities provide a broadly pragmatic liberal arts and sciences education in environments that value and encourage ethical leadership and responsible citizenship. As this event reflects, VFIC faculty teach by initiating academic challenge.”
