YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The Youngstown State University Ethics Bowl team made it to the semifinals at the 2025 APPE Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl National Competition.

The team of Brandon Tabak, junior, philosophy and political science; Jordan Pintar, senior, philosophy; Sofia Myers, junior, political science and communications; and Peyton Hodge, junior, political science and anthropology, competed against 35 other top teams in the nation, ultimately claiming fourth place in the semifinal tiebreaker.

Each student has built on skills they’ve gained from their classes at YSU. 

“It really helps you think back to those subjects [from our classes]. … Off-the-cuff thinking is crucial when you’re competing,” Tabak said.

Coached by Alan Tomhave, associate dean and professor of philosophy, and Mark Vopat, professor of humanities and social sciences, the team underwent a rigorous preparation process prior to its appearance at the national competition, which was held in Norfolk, Va., Feb. 22 and 23. With just one month to verse themselves in 17 different cases, they had to be strict with their meeting times, proposed approaches and division of workload.

“It was really cool to meet the other schools. A lot of teams had six people, but we’re a four-person team,” Hodge said. “Obviously, some of us know more about some topics – more than others – but we all contribute in our own unique ways.”

The team members highlighted the support and guidance of their coaches and guest judges. Tomhave and Vopat select practice judges for each case to ensure that the team is presenting to people of diverse fields and professional backgrounds. 

“Coaches Tomhave and Vopat do a great job of picking the people they want to judge for each case. … We need the cases to pertain to the judges’ interests or fields so that we can receive the best possible feedback,” Pintar said.

The YSU Ethics Bowl team has built a successful reputation, and other teams will often approach them after competitions, complementing their clarity and collaboration as well as their coaching. 

“We get to take pride in our academics. … The consistency of support from faculty and our own drive to uphold that YSU standard are what allows us to compete at this level,” Myers said.

CREDIT: Youngstown State University.

Pictured at top: Members of the YSU Ethics Bowl team.