Johnson C. Smith University Makes History
First HBCU to become NCICU Ethics Bowl Champion
North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities (NCICU) celebrated an important milestone in February as student teams from across the state gathered at the North Carolina Legislative Complex for the 15th Annual Ethics Bowl.
The event kicked off on Friday, February 6, 2026 and ran through February 7, 2026. An event highlight included an evening keynote address from North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction Mo Green.
Drawing on his extensive career in public service, Superintendent Green shared personal experiences on the challenges to ethical leadership, encouraging students to maintain their core values throughout their professional journeys.
The Ethics Bowl competition focuses on collaborative, ethical analysis of real-world scenarios rather than traditional debate, requiring teams to present sound moral reasoning to a panel of judges.
This year’s competition, centered on the theme “Ethics in Leadership,” culminated in a historic first as JCS University became the first HBCU to reach the finals and prevail as champion.
The JCSU debate team that snagged the prestigious title, includes several standout students: Marvin Brown, Holiness Mhlanga (captain), Alastair Park, Christian Smith, Jaslynn Vorachith. The students are celebrating this iconic moment.
Holiness Mhlanga said, “I am still in shock from the win. I believe this year worked not because of effort but because of passion. Each of us connected on a more personal level. We didn’t see each other as teammates we saw each other as people. Because we saw each other as people, we appreciated the differences we all brought to the team. Through channeling all these differences is what made us a unique team.”
Johnson C. Smith University became the first HBCU to reach the finals and prevail as champion.
