The St. Mary’s College of Maryland Ethics Bowl team advanced to the quarterfinals at the 2026 APPE Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl national competition, held March 7-8 in St. Louis, Missouri, finishing among the top eight teams in a field narrowed from 172 schools that entered regional qualifiers in the fall.
The Association for Practical and Professional Ethics (APPE) hosted the 30th annual event in conjunction with its international conference at the Hyatt Regency St. Louis at the Arch. William & Mary claimed the national championship after defeating Seattle University in the final match, with semifinalists from Stanford University and the University of Florida. Quarterfinalists included teams from Harvard University, Macalester College, St. Mary’s College of Maryland, and Utah Valley University.
From 172 institutions competing regionally, only 36 teams earned spots at nationals. St. Mary’s College of Maryland’s placement meant it outperformed 164 schools and ranked ahead of all but four others nationwide. This marked the fifth time in 13 years that the St. Mary’s team qualified for the national stage, building on a strong regional performance where it tied for second at the UMBC-hosted qualifier in December 2025 to secure one of three bids to St. Louis.
Teams debated real-life ethical cases covering topics such as medicine and public health, emerging technologies, media and culture, business practices, education, law, and governance. Judges evaluated not specific answers but the clarity, focus, thoughtfulness, and appreciation for diverse perspectives in analyzing ethical dimensions.
The APPE, founded in 1991 as an international nonprofit, promotes scholarship, education, and practice in practical and professional ethics. The Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl format challenges undergraduate teams to apply ethical reasoning collaboratively in timed, case-based discussions.
St. Mary’s College of Maryland, located in St. Mary’s City in Southern Maryland’s St. Mary’s County, continues to demonstrate academic excellence in ethics and critical thinking through this competitive program. The team’s consistent national appearances highlight the strength of liberal arts education at the public honors college, drawing students from the region and beyond.