Cabrillo College announced Friday that its Ethics Bowl team has qualified to compete in the 2025 Association for Practical and Professional Ethics Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl National Competition that will be held in Norfolk, Virginia, in February.

At the California Regional Competition held at Stanford this past December, four of the 27 teams competing advanced to the National Competition. Cabrillo College was the only community college team to compete against teams from four-year universities including UCLA, UC Davis, UC Riverside, UCSC, San Diego State University and San Jose State University, among others.

Cabrillo was one of only three teams to win all of their first three rounds, advancing to the semi-finals and earning their spot to compete in the National Competition. From among the top Regional teams nationwide, only 36 teams were selected to compete in the National Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl Competition. Cabrillo entered two teams in the Regional Competition, the second Cabrillo team had two wins and one narrow loss to UCLA, finishing 11th place overall.

“What makes both teams’ success even more remarkable, is that these are first- and second-year students who were competing against teams from other colleges and universities, that were composed mostly of juniors and seniors,” said Claudia Close, Cabrillo Ethics Instructor and Ethics Bowl faculty adviser, in a statement. “Throughout the competition, the Cabrillo students were poised and professional, demonstrating exemplary teamwork and good sportsmanship.”

In each round two cases are considered, and the students do not know which of the 12 cases they have prepared will be the focus, nor do they know what the question will be. The team presents their argument, responds to the opposing team’s objections, then must respond to the judges’ questions. In the second half of the round, the opposing team will present on a different case, and the team which presented first must then raise certain points about that presentation. This requires extensive knowledge of the case and the ethical theories, as well as the ability to think quickly and work nimbly with teammates.

For the National Competition in Virginia in February, teams will be given a unique set of 17 cases that they will have less than two months to prepare. The 2025 case set will include questions about space weaponization, parental rights and responsibilities, security issues around automotive tracking devices and doorbell cameras, tipping culture, hostile architecture, how to tackle food waste and more. Teams compete in four rounds over two days, before qualifying to advance to semifinals and finals.

“I am excited to delve into the ethical dilemmas presented in the new cases and to continue working with my team,” said Emma Spath, 2024-2025 Cabrillo Ethics Bowl team member, in a statement. “We have fostered a strong sense of community, and I look forward to the spirited discussions and collaborative efforts that come with preparing for the national competition. Additionally, I am eager to meet peers from across the country who have similarly dedicated themselves to this process and to engage in collegial conversations born from weeks of hard work and thoughtful preparation.”

Community Health Trust of Pajaro Valley named as Neighborhood Champion

Bank of America has named Watsonville-based Community Health Trust of Pajaro Valley as its local 2024 Neighborhood Champion for its work to foster a healthy community through advocacy and wellness.

As a Neighborhood Champion, Community Health Trust is awarded a $50,000 grant over two years, leadership training resources for the organization’s executive director and an emerging leader, access to technical coaching, and a national network of nonprofit peers.

“Since 2019, our Neighborhood Champions program has provided a unique combination of leadership development and multiyear grant funding to Monterey Bay nonprofits, and we’re excited to include Community Health Trust of Pajaro Valley to help them scale community health programs,” said Jennifer Dacquisto, president of Bank of America Monterey Bay region, in a statement. “Countless individuals, families, and neighborhoods have felt the profound impact these Neighborhood Champion nonprofits have had across the Monterey Bay region over the past years.”

The Pajaro Valley’s low-income residents and farmworker population suffer higher rates of chronic illnesses such as diabetes and obesity. They are twice as likely to be enrolled in government food programs. However, some chronic illnesses and health outcomes can be improved or managed with healthier habits such as those offered by Pajaro Valley Community Health Trust. The organization will use the Neighborhood Champions grant to help its expansion of health and nutrition programs into downtown Watsonville.

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