Harry & Ina Durham Endowed High School Ethics Case Competition
About the Competition
Clemson University’s Harry and Ina Durham Endowed High School Ethics Case Competition engages high school students in a hands-on, methodical approach to solving ethical dilemmas in a professional setting. Teams of two high school students propose a solution to an ethical dilemma using the Clemson University STAR Decision-Making Model in front of a panel of professional judges. Up to two teams per high school are allowed to compete in the competition.
2027 Competition Dates
Face-to-Face Competition |
Fri. March 5, 2027at Clemson University |
Virtual Competition |
Fri. April 9, 2027via Zoom |
Register for our 2027 in-person and virtual competitions between:
September 1, 2026 – January 31, 2027
Advisors' Informational Webinars
Tues. Nov. 17, 2026 | 7:00 am or 4:30 pm
Wed. Jan. 13, 2027 | 7:00 am or 4:30 pm
Fill out our interest form above to stay in touch with case competition updates and to register for our Advisors' Informational Webinars, offered virtually in November and January! This is a great place to connect with Institute staff and learn more about the competition, whether you represent a prospective, new, or seasoned team.
Want to learn more? Explore these resources!
Reasons to Participate:
- Gain exposure to realistic ethical dilemmas
- Understand that dilemmas occur everywhere and every day to everyone who makes choices
- Experience with decision-making in pressured and time-restrictive situations at a leadership level
- Participation can be featured on a resume or college application
- Opportunity to network with other high school students, Clemson University students, staff, faculty, and admissions professionals
- Monetary prizes for the winning teams
Congratulations to our 2026 High School Ethics Case Competition Winners!
2nd place: Melody Efrem & Kavya Nayak from TL Hanna High School (Anderson, SC)
3rd place: Henry Cross & John Cross from The Cross School (Clemson, SC)
Thank you to all our 2026 finalists:
• Excellence Christian Academy (Cumming, GA): Johnson & Johnson
• George Washington Carver High School (Philadelphia, PA): Katherine Aiello & Ashley Rodrigues-Zangrandi
• Global Leadership Academy (Atlanta, GA): Nala Washington & Lyle Gladney
• Independent School (FL & PA): Nathan Cohen & Amara Agarwal
• Randolph Early College (Asheboro, NC): Johnathan Dean & Benjamin Rietschel
• The Cross School (Clemson, SC): Henry Cross & John Cross
• TL Hanna High School (Anderson, SC): Melody Efrem & Kavya Nayak
• TL Hanna High School (Anderson, SC): Talon Hall & Adelynn Ehlert
Previous Case Competition Winners:
2025 Face-to-Face Competition Winners
1st place: Kiley Seaver & Krish Kumar from Westside High School
2nd place: Caidyn Schmidt & Sahasra Datla from Independent School
3rd place: Arham Huq & Andie Ingraham from Research Triangle High School
2024 Face-to-Face Competition Winners
1st place: Daniel Parker & Kole Mills from Westside High School
2nd place: Kiley Seaver & Krish Kumar from Westside High School
3rd place: Natalia Salas & Catalina Salas from Westminster Catawba Christian School
1st place: William Davies & Rylee Cowan from Westside High School
2nd place: Autumn Burkett & Caroline Barnnette from Westside High School
3rd place: Alice Story & Ellison Berry from Seneca High School
2023 Virtual Competition Winners
1st place: Yani Xia & Dora Wen from Niskayuna High School and Emma Willard School
2nd place: DeeDee Herrington & Emma Sullivan from St. Mary's High School
3rd place: Kevin Lee & Kevin Nie from Albany Academy and Stuart Hall High School
Specific questions regarding the Harry and Ina Durham Endowed High School Ethics Case Competition can be directed to ethics@clemson.edu.
