STUDENT SPOTLIGHT: Wilmington’s Patricia Stevens Earns Scholarship Through Moral Forum Competition

Below is a press release from The University of Alabama via Merit:

TUSCALOOSA, AL — The 19th annual James P. Hayes, Jr. Moral Forum Tournament culminated on December 4, 2026 with the championship round. The tournament judges named University of Alabama Honors students Abby Barton, a senior public health major from Gibsonia, Pa., and Heidi Sack, a senior communication studies major from Broomfield, Colo., champions of the debate and awarded each student a $1,500 scholarship.

The Debate Resolution stated, “In order to be a more moral society, the U.S. government should prioritize the development and training of artificial intelligence.” Barton and Sack argued the pro position in the final debate on Dec. 4.

“This year’s topic of the ethics of artificial intelligence proved particularly timely. Students are engaging with AI and know that it will continue to be a significant factor in their careers and lives. Thus, students from across disciplinary backgrounds were keen to talk about this new technological tool and its social impact,” stated Megan Bailey, assistant professor and director of experiential education in the Honors College at UA.

“It also proved a significant and rewarding challenge for me to learn as much as I can about AI in order to guide my students through their ethical deliberations.”

Five other categories of scholarships were given to the Moral Forum participants. Griffen Bon, a junior computer science major from Canton, Ga., earned the Tarif Haque Outstanding Written Case award. Noah Taeckens, a junior economics, finance and legal studies major from Ann Arbor, Mich., received the Best Individual Debater award. Vander England, a junior computer science and electrical engineering major from Wheaton, Ill., received the James P. Hayes, Jr., Spirit of Moral Forum scholarship. Each of them received $500 scholarship.

The debate’s semifinalists were Samuel Overstreet, a junior biology major from Olive Branch, Miss., Jackson Whitlow, a senior international studies and political science major from Baton Rouge, La., Austin Bogdanovich, a junior psychology and criminal justice major from Buena Park, Calif., and Sidney Issac, a junior finance and economics major from Fishers, Ind. Each semifinalist earned a $1,000 scholarship.

Lastly, finalists Gina Kaiser, a sophomore cybersecurity major from Burke, Va., and Tricia Stevens, a sophomore electrical engineering and computer engineering major from Wilmington, Mass. were both awarded $1,500 scholarships.

“Moral Forum teaches students that difficult ethical questions do not have a clear-cut answer. Students must use all of the faculties available to them to discern why they believe what they believe, how to engage difficult questions in a logically consistent way, and where they might find value, collaboration and empathy with others who think differently than they do,” Bailey said.

“The Moral Forum exemplifies our mission to prepare students for lives of thoughtful leadership. It challenges them to confront complex ethical questions with courage, clarity and respect,” Honors College Dean Tiffany Sippial said.

About the Moral Forum

Striving to foster both open-mindedness and conviction, Moral Forum seeks to help Honors College students distinguish between reasoned judgments about the moral legitimacy of views on the one hand and being intolerant or disrespectful toward individuals or cultural groups on the other.

Students research and engage in seminar discussions concerning a single moral problem to gain proficiency in the complexity of ethical dilemmas and the values by which morality might be ascertained. Students then engage in a competitive team debate tournament in order to grapple with moral theories while practicing ethical and empathetic citizenship.

The University of Alabama, part of The University of Alabama System, is the state’s flagship university. UA shapes a better world through its teaching, research and service. With a global reputation for excellence, UA provides a forward-thinking environment and over 200 degree programs on a beautiful, student-centered campus. A leader in cutting-edge research, UA advances discovery, creative inquiry and knowledge through more than 30 research centers. As the state’s largest higher education institution, UA drives economic growth in Alabama and beyond.