North carolina high school ethics bowl

The National High School Ethics Bowl is powered by volunteer Judges and Moderators. The claim that we couldn’t do it without your help is no exaggeration. Our volunteers are crucial to providing a great learning experience in civil and constructive moral discussion for the best and brightest high school students from across the United States. 

As a Judge, you will play a crucial role in helping students reason ethically about a wide variety of challenging issue and engage productively in contexts of disagreement. Unlike typical debate competitions, Ethics Bowl rewards students for the depth and breadth of their thought, their ability to think carefully about complex problems, and the consideration they display of the diverse perspectives of their peers. Judges will evaluate individual matches using these criteria, and engage in Q&A sessions with each team during matches to which they are assigned. No prior or specialized training is necessary to volunteer as a Judge (though previous Ethics Bowl experience is a definite plus).

As a Moderator, you will play a crucial role in setting up and running individual match rooms, and providing students a fruitful, fun, and inclusive space for constructive conversation. Moderators set the agenda (case, question, etc.) for each match, keep time, and enforce the NHSEB’s rules. As is the case with Judges, no prior or specialized training is necessary to volunteer as a Moderator (though previous Ethics Bowl experience is preferred for the National Championship).

Breakfast, lunch, snacks, and coffee will be provided for all volunteers at NHSEB 2025, alongside all relevant materials and an NHSEB t-shirt. Training resources and a live training session for each role will be provided in advance of the event. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at ethicsbowl@unc.edu with any questions or concerns.