The University of Lynchburg defeated Hampton University and Washington and Lee University at the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges’ 26th annual Applied Ethics Bowl, held Friday, Feb. 13, at the University of Richmond.
At the event, which involved 17 collegiate teams from across Virginia, Lynchburg’s team deliberated a variety of case studies related to the 2026 theme, “Ethics and Business.” They ended the day with a 2-2 record.
Lynchburg’s team is made up of Trent Adkins ’29, William Ely ’29, Indra Velasco ’28, Alisha Knotts ’26, and Kaitlyn Regan ’26, the team’s captain.
The team’s faculty coordinators are Dr. Amy Merrill Willis, director of general education and outcomes assessment and professor of religious studies, and Dr. Chip Walton, interim chief academic officer and vice president of academic affairs.
“Our team represented the University of Lynchburg with pride and poise,” Willis said. “We are proud of tough wins over Hampton University and Washington and Lee University. The competition was fierce and the team performed admirably in all four rounds.”
Walton commended Willis for coaching this year’s team and also praised Regan for doing “a great job organizing and recruiting” and for being “the coach on the field.”
He further described the Ethics Bowl as an “incredible learning experience” that “underscores the value of higher education and resists the cliché of ‘finding the right answer.’ Students are faced with real-world ethical dilemmas with no clear solutions.
“The competition requires that they tap into the critical-thinking skills to navigate complex situations to find the best possible outcome. I’m so proud of how our students met the challenges.”
