Can you say huge success?! That's what happened on Saturday, November 6 at the Central States Regional Ethics Bowl hosted at Marian University. The Marian University Ethics Bowl team, consisting of engaged seniors Samuel Packer ‘22 and Eleanor "Norah" Svec, ‘22 won second place out of 18 teams from 12 universities! They debated everything from your right to own an exotic pet, the filibuster, patent protections and more! Packer and Svec joined the team as sophomores and got engaged February 2021. So, what's their secret to success? 

"We work very well together, and that compatibility and teamwork makes for a cohesive presentation,” explained Svec. The team was coached by David Denz, Ph.D. while Matt Sherman, Ph.D. also prepared the team for the kinds of questions the moderator and judges would ask. "I also think the judges really liked Samuel's bowtie, too, which may have helped," Svec joked. 

"One thing we heard is how incredible these young people are and how bright their future is with their leadership on the horizon," added Walker Center for Applied Ethics Executive Director Elizabeth Coit.

Marian’s other team members, coached by Karen Spear, Ph.D., included an all-freshman team: Grace Hartman, ‘25 Drew Polk, ‘25 Madeline Quinn, ’25 Hunter Ryan, ’25 Sarah Strodtbeck, ‘25 Alba Cortes, ’25  Amir Danel, ’25 Taliana Davis, ’25 Anna Ramirez, ’25  Logan Wagner,’25  and Chaniya Williams, ’25.

First place went to Ohio's Youngstown State University, while third place went to Michigan's Oakland University. Marian University has hosted the competition since 1999.

This year's winning teams will travel to Cincinnati, Ohio in February 2022 for the national finals. That'll be just a couple of months after Packer and Svec get married on New Year's Eve 2021. Maybe that'll be an extra bit of good luck? Packer and Svec believe so. Svec stated with their move to Cincinnati, the Ethics Bowl competition keeps following them!