The Final Four: ORU Bioethics Debate Team Reaches Semifinals in National Bioethics Bowl

Tulsa, OK, April 16, 2024 - Oral Roberts University's (ORU) Bioethics Debate Team secured a spot in the Final 4 of this year's National Bioethics Bowl, along with Stanford, the University of Georgia, and Georgetown University. The National Bioethics Bowl is an intercollegiate competition in which students from universities around the U.S. debate pressing ethical issues in medicine, biotechnology, and healthcare. This is the team's first appearance at the bowl, marking a significant achievement for ORU's competing biology students.

ORU President Dr. William M. Wilson noted the team's success, saying, "Ethical questions are becoming more complex as technology advances. ORU is committed to engaging these complexities and fostering critical thinking and ethical understanding in our students. Our bioethics team demonstrates this, and we are incredibly proud of their achievement."

Out of 19 different universities from across America, ORU finished 4th overall, facing Stanford, the eventual national champion, in the semifinals. The ORU Bioethics Debate Team is part of the ORU Bioethics Club, which was founded this year by Anna Wilson, a sophomore medical molecular biology major. Wilson established the new club to educate its members about developing ethical dilemmas in both medical practices and biological and chemical research.

ORU's Bioethics Debate Team during the National Bioethics Bowl competition

"We are incredibly honored to have been given the opportunity to attend this competition and bring glory to God through these bioethical discussions," said team captain Anna Wilson. "We believe that there needs to be more Spirit-empowered Christian voices in the world of bioethics as we are entering a new era of medical advancement. We are excited to attend the 2025 National Bioethics Bowl next year and bring home a first-place trophy for the University."

Rachel Budavich, Associate Chair and Lecturer of Bioethics, stated, "We are incredibly proud of our Bioethics Club's performance. As first-time participants in the Bowl, our students demonstrated remarkable dedication and leadership. Their journey to the semifinals, where they faced off against Stanford, is a testament to ORU's whole-person education and Spirit-empowered leadership. With this year's experience under our belt, we're already strategizing for next year's competition in Utah."

This Final 4 finish adds to a historic spring for ORU and the sciences. In January, ORU opened the new Biological Sciences Center, a 27,000-square-foot facility containing a two-story atrium, a cadaver dissection lab, a lecture hall, and equipped with faculty research labs. As a nature-inspired facility, the Center offers environmentally sustainable sunlit spaces, indoor-outdoor classrooms, a greenhouse observatory, a green roof entry canopy, and a kitchen space where students can grow farm-to-table produce on-site. The building fosters a culture of exploration, innovation, and discovery for ORU students to advance their knowledge in biological sciences.

Earlier this month, ORU announced a partnership with Redwire Space, a company committed to accelerating humanity's expansion into space by delivering reliable, economical, and sustainable infrastructure for future generations. This partnership will provide future ORU students with internship and learning opportunities related to space programs and microgravity research.

ORU's Bioethics Debate Team consists of:

• Anna Wilson (Team Captain; Sophomore, Medical Molecular Biology)
• Dominic Carrano (Sophomore, Medical Molecular Biology)
• Caleb Tham (Sophomore, Medical Molecular Biology)
• Kara Steward (Sophomore, Medical Molecular Biology)
• Samantha Griffin (Sophomore, Medical Molecular Biology)
• Josh Pilote (Junior, Medical Molecular Biology)
• Marie Stepp (Sophomore, Psychology/Biology Minor)
• Ruby Mutisya (Sophomore, Medical Molecular Biology)
• Professor Rachel Budavich, Associate Chair and Lecturer of Bioethics (Coach)
• Dr. Celestino Valesquez, Associate Professor of Biology (Coach)

ORU's Bioethics Debate Team 2024 (left to right in the photo) Josh Pilote, Rosie Alshujari (non-competitor, photographer), Ruby Mutisya, Marie Stepp, Anna Wilson, Samantha Griffin, Caleb Tham, Kara Steward, Dominic Carrano

ORU's Bioethics Debate Team shared their excitement for participating in the competition:

"It was an honor to represent ORU by displaying our talents and understanding of science and defending moral choices that were Holy Spirit-led. We went to Baylor with high hopes, and the Lord met us there. The support of the staff and faculty of ORU was essential to the national ranking, with honorable mentions being Professor Rachel Budavich and Dr. Celestino Velasquez." -Samantha Griffin

"In a world where science and faith are increasingly seen as in opposition, it's all the more important that we work to have conversations that integrate both reasoning and morality. There is an expanding need for communicators with Christian worldviews to be involved in such conversations. As ORU students, we get to fill that gap. The real success of competing at the National Bioethics Bowl comes through being able to share our ideas and challenge the ideas of others. And as for our success in overall placement, the glory can only go to God." -Caleb Tham

"Our run at this year's National Bioethics Bowl speaks to the dedication and passion of our team. To take this club from a concept to a semi-finalist team in less than four months is remarkable, and I couldn't be more honored to be a part of it or more thankful to the biology faculty for their support throughout this journey. I'm looking forward to seeing the club grow to continue and empower the next generation of doctors and researchers to approach the latest issues in the field in an intelligent and Spirit-empowered manner." -Dominic Carrano

"I'm so happy ORU has given us the opportunity to exalt the name of God as we debated ethics and morals with the top universities from around the country." -Josh Pilote

"The National Bioethics Bowl competition offered a profound understanding of the complex questions that I, as an aspiring physician, will encounter. I gained knowledge on providing comprehensive care for my future patients through an examination of key principles such as autonomy, justice, beneficence, non-maleficence, and equity, among others. The competition also shed light on contemporary ethical challenges in healthcare, fostering fruitful discussions with representatives from various universities. Participating in the competition was invaluable, as it taught me to integrate a Spirit-empowered approach into my medical practice," -Kara Steward.

"We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to our esteemed professors for their outstanding work in seamlessly integrating the realms of religion and science. Their commitment has played a crucial role in helping us stand out during the recent National Bioethics Bowl competition at Baylor University. With thorough preparation, we analyzed each case from a Christian worldview, which not only improved our performance but also encouraged meaningful discussions with other universities."- Ruby Mutisya

UNIVERSITY BRIEF

ORU is a Christian, Spirit-empowered, interdenominational university in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with 15 years of consecutive enrollment growth. Regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, ORU offers over 150 majors, minors, concentrations, and pre-professional programs at the bachelor's level, ranging from business and engineering to nursing, ministry, and more. Under the leadership of President Dr. William Wilson, ORU is preparing students from all 50 states and 152 nations in the last four years to be whole leaders for the whole world.

The Wall Street Journal ranked ORU as the #8 university in the nation for student experience and one of America's Best Colleges (2024). This new category rates the best colleges in the U.S. to have a great experience while attending. This ranking is powered by one of the largest ever independent surveys of verified college students and recent graduates in the United States. Niche recognizes ORU as one of the top 25 most diverse colleges in America, # 1 best Christian college in Oklahoma, and # 1 in Oklahoma for diversity. Princeton Review ranked ORU as the best regional college, and College Raptor ranked ORU as a Hidden Gem in the Southwest.

ORU has been ranked by U.S. News & World Report as:

• #1 in Undergraduate Teaching
• #2 in Most International Students
• #3 in Best Value
• #6 in Best College for Veterans
• #7 in Best Regional Colleges in the West

For more information, visit www.oru.edu.

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