Palisades Takes Top Prize in 2021 Fleming High School Ethics Bowl
Six teams of students from five local high schools put their ethical decision-making skills to the test in the 2021 Fleming High School Ethics Bowl.
After a day filled with discussions and deliberations, students from Palisades High School walked away the big winners. Building 21 High School (Team #2) came in second place, while Northampton Area High School took third, and Southern Lehigh High School came in fourth.
“The world needs good managers, good people, good employees, good executives, and you’re certainly on that pathway,” Tom Craig, Ph.D., assistant professor, told the crowd of students before announcing the results. “It’s rewarding, and it’s great for us all to see.”
Students played the role of internal consultants to a large, community-focused medical center fighting for its survival. They had to choose between four outcomes—including implementing cost-cutting measures, converting to non-profit status, or selling the clinic—and explain the ethical, moral, and financial arguments that led to that choice.
Camila O’Donnell, a participant on the Palisades team, came in second place in last year’s competition. This year, her team took home the top prize.
“Last year, I was able to see how the Ethics Bowl worked, and I really loved the environment,” she said. “My teammates were great examples for me, and we’re going to keep doing this every year.”
Each winning team walked away with a commemorative trophy and a one-time scholarship award to be split evenly among teammates. The top three teams also received additional academic tuition scholarships to DeSales.
Richard Fleming and his family foundation, The Fleming Institute for Business Ethics at DeSales University, was introduced during the 2009-2010 academic year. The institute aims to create a meaningful ethical dialogue between academia and business, and to foster such dialogue with students aspiring to be business leaders.
For more photos from this year’s Fleming High School Ethics Bowl, visit our Flickr album.
