Ina B. Durham Annual High School Ethics Case Competition
About the Competition
Clemson University’s Ina B. Durham Annual 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 the competition. This year, the case competition will be hosted in an entirely online format. We plan to offer an in-person competition again in 2027!
2026 Ina B. Durham High School Ethics Case Competition
Friday, March 6th, 2026
Hosted Virtually by Zoom
2026 Case Competition Information Packet
Monday, September 1st, 2025 | Registration Opens (Due January 31st, 2026)
Registration will open for our 2026 competition at the link below on Monday, September, 1st and will close on January 31st, 2026. All the competition details can be found in the information packet above.
Friday, November 7th, 2025 | Show Interest & Register for our Advisors Information Session
Fill out our interest form to stay in touch with case competition updates and to register for our Advisors Information Sessions offered virtually on November 7th, 2025! This is a great place to conenct with staff and learn more about the competition whether you are a new or seasoned team.
2026 Interest Form Here
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 2025 High School Ethics Case Competition Winners!
2nd place: Caidyn Schmidt & Sahasra Datla from Independent School (PA & NJ)
3rd place: Arham Huq & Andie Ingraham from Research Triangle High School (Research Triangle Park, NC)
Thank you to all our 2025 competing teams:
• Chapman High School (Inman, SC): Gwenivere Brown & Rachel Timmons | Arden Sinclair & Evangelina Ballew
• Christ Church Episcopal School (Greenville, SC): Amanda de Leon & Jonathan Thompson
• Cross Homeschool: Henry Cross & John Cross
• Independent School (NJ & PA): Caidyn Schmidt & Sahasra Datla
• Maclay School and Christ Classical Academy (Tallahassee, FL): Reid Roberts & Owen Mitchell
• Powdersville High School (Powdersville, SC): Trey Taylor & Yael Varvara | Kimberly Ellis & Anna King
• Research Triangle High School (Research Triangle Park, NC): Arham Huq & Andie Ingraham | Mariam Hanafy & Smriti Jagannathan
• Seneca High School (Seneca, SC): Landon Lyle & Ethan Sullivan | Ava Alexander & Emma Dover
• St. Joseph’s Catholic School (Greenville, SC): Lilly Painter & Catherine Lynn
• Summerville High School (Summerville, SC): Grace Hough & Emilia Markovic
• Westminster Catawba Christian School (Rock Hill, SC): Ana Catalina Salas & James Reinhardt | Ida Hall & Sophie Sherer
• Westside High School (Anderson, SC): Kiley Seaver & Krish Kumar | Vanya Lopez Escalera Perez & Riley Hayes
Previous Case Competition Winners:
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
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 Ina B. Durham Annual High School Ethics Case Competition can be directed to ethics@clemson.edu.
