Ann Arbor, MI – High school students from across the state explored a range of ethical questions in this year’s A2Ethics case competition, penning original case studies about the issues that matter to them. 

Students from five schools participated in the ninth-annual contest, submitting 15 cases. 

The competition was judged by a top-notch panel of philosophers, all of whom have judged or volunteered for the Michigan High School Ethics Bowl program: 

• Matt Deaton, Instructor, University of Texas at Tyler
• Griffin Klemick, Assistant Professor of Philosophy Instruction at Hope College
• Jill Dieterle, Professor and Chair of the Philosophy Section, Eastern Michigan University
• Ann Blakeslee, Professor of English, Eastern Michigan University 
• Payton Bucki, MPA Student, Oakland University
• Kriszta Sajber, Assistant Professor of Philosophy, Misericordia University

Jeanine DeLay, president of A2Ethics, said that as the Michigan Case Competition and Awards have evolved, “We have discovered giving student writers a chance to tell us what sparks their interest in a particular topic and how they decide to tell a story that poses ethical dilemmas  is the best way to announce and illustrate the Competition’s learning benefits.”  

Jennifer Tang, from Ann Arbor Huron High School, took the grand prize and $350 for her case, entitled The Last Wish. The case explores the story of a terminally ill Australian teenager whose last wish was to lose his virginity. It asks if our moral or ethical standards should shift when it comes to people facing death, and what our obligations are to the last wishes of our loved ones

The two honorable mentions of the competition, winning $150 each, went to:

• Elijah Makman-Levinson, from Pioneer High School, for his case Warning Signs. The case examines ethical obligations to warn people of danger they may not be aware of through the lens of domestic violence awareness.
• Adam Thanapom and Jennifer Tang, of Ann Arbor Huron, for their case Grave Decisions. The case delves into the ethics of how we select our final resting places, comparing cemeteries to newer options of green burials. 

“The book “It Ends with Us” was what gave me the inspiration to write this case,” said Makman-Levinson. “This romance novel by Colleen Hoover tells the story of a young woman who’s in a relationship with a man who she discovers is abusive, and depicts the conflicts that people who are in abusive relationships face when they have to consider what to do in their relationship. This book really made me think about the psychological complications of abusive relationships, which made me consider what the ethical obligation of someone is if they know that an abusive person is in a relationship with someone. I hope that people will think about the complex psychological questions that come with abusive relationships.’‘

For Thanapom and Tang, their case also aimed to encourage readers to consider complex dynamics.

“When we wrote this case, I thought about a cemetery not far from where both of us live. I’ve passed by it many times, yet it always felt empty to me. I always wished there was a better way to use it for the deceased and those living today. Originally, this case was going to be specifically about urban cemeteries and the land they take up. As we discussed the nuances of this topic, we felt a broader discussion of land use and burial practices would be more appropriate, centering around different options for burials as opposed to one specific option,” said the case team. “We hope readers will begin to explore the conflict between prioritizing the needs of the present and respecting the past. In a world where more sustainable options are becoming more limited, it becomes increasingly crucial that people still make efforts to reach these options. Even after death, their decisions can still have an impact on their family and the world around them.”

Sajber, one of the case competition judges, said this year’s cases stood out from past years. 

“It's been such a pleasure to judge the A2Ethics cases,” said Sajber. “I always enjoy observing the latest trends and newly emerging topics - how their imagination moves to ever different horizons.”

The three winning cases, as well as the others  submitted, will be available on the A2Ethics website soon.