National Ethics Case Competition Awards $250,000 Prize Pool to 2026 Winners in Washington, D.C.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contacts: Sean Duffy, 303.718.9049, [email protected]

National Ethics Case Competition Awards $250,000 Prize Pool to 2026 Winners in Washington, D.C.

WASHINGTON, D.C., April 20, 2026 — The National Ethics Case Competition (NECC) has announced the winners of its 2026 competition, awarding a total of $250,000 in prizes to top-performing teams, their advisors, and participating institutions.

Held this week in Washington, D.C., the competition brought together top student teams from universities across the country to navigate complex business and ethical dilemmas.

After advancing through multiple rounds of competition, five finalist teams competed in the championship round at The Mayflower Hotel, with solutions evaluated by a panel of leaders in business, ethics, and public policy.

  • First Place was awarded to Cornell University.
  • Second Place was awarded to New Mexico State University.
  • Third Place was awarded to the University of Denver.

The competition challenges students to analyze real-world scenarios at the intersection of the free market and ethical decision-making, applying the Bill Daniels Ethics Principles under time-constrained conditions.

“These students demonstrated exactly what Bill Daniels, one of America’s legendary entrepreneurs, believed – that the most successful leaders are those who understand that ethical conduct and business success go hand in hand,” said Hanna Skandera, President and CEO of the Daniels Fund. “Their commitment to ethical decision-making was impressive and proved that a deep understanding of business ethics is a winning free-market strategy.”

Hosted by Texas A&M University in founding partnership with the Daniels Fund, NECC continues to grow as a national platform for developing principled leaders.

“What makes NECC unique is the environment it creates,” said Kim Field, Associate Vice President for Citizenship and Service at Texas A&M University.  “Students are asked to think deeply, defend their decisions, and engage with competing perspectives in real time. That experience stays with them long after the competition ends.”

The 2026 competition brought together 18 semifinalist teams, culminating in a final round of five teams where students presented their recommendations and responded to judge questioning before a live audience.

Winners were announced during the awards ceremony, where top teams were recognized not only for their performance but for their ability to apply ethical reasoning in high-pressure, real-world scenarios.

As interest continues to grow nationwide, NECC is expanding its reach, with plans to increase participation and deepen its impact on students preparing to lead in business, government, and beyond.

About the National Ethics Case Competition (NECC)

The National Ethics Case Competition is a premier collegiate competition that challenges students to analyze complex business and ethical dilemmas and present solutions to experienced judges. Hosted by Texas A&M University in founding partnership with the Daniels Fund, NECC equips the next generation of leaders with the tools to navigate ethical challenges in a free-market economy.

ABOUT THE DANIELS FUND

The Daniels Fund was established in 2000 with a $1 billion bequest from cable television pioneer Bill Daniels. A private charitable foundation dedicated to positively impacting American life, the Fund has given $1.5 billion over its history to improve the lives of men, women and children in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.

Visit DanielsFund.org to learn more.

 

Daniels Fund Awards 205 Students Four-Year Daniels Scholarships

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contacts: Sean Duffy, 303.718.9049, [email protected] 
Bruce Wilmsen, 720.941.4429, BWilmsen@brucew

Daniels Fund Awards 205 Students Four-Year Daniels Scholarships

Highly Selective Program Awards Up to a Full Ride for College

Apr. 2, 2026 — (DENVER) – The Daniels Fund today announced its 2026 class of Daniels Scholarship Program recipients. The Fund selected 205 high school seniors from Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming – including 150 students from Colorado. The full list of scholarship recipients can be viewed at danielsfund.org/2026danielsscholars.

Since 2000, the Fund has invested nearly $440 million in scholarship programs, including scholarships awarded to more than 5,600 Daniels Scholars. 

The Daniels Scholarship is one of the most selective and sought-after scholarships in the United States.

“We are honored to award 205 four-year college scholarships to outstanding young men and women who exemplify academic excellence, character, and a commitment to service,” said Hanna Skandera, Daniels Fund President & CEO. “Those of us who had the privilege of meeting and interviewing these new Daniels Scholars came away deeply inspired by this exceptional and promising generation.”

As part of the interview process, 180 top business and community leaders from the Daniels Fund’s four-state region interviewed prospective scholars.

Students are selected for their strength of character, leadership potential, commitment to serving the community, academic potential and financial need. As the living legacy of Daniels Fund founder Bill Daniels, Daniels Scholars embody the values he most cherished.

Daniels Scholars may use their scholarship at any accredited nonprofit college or university in the United States. They have their full cost of attendance covered at partner schools and up to $100,000 over four years if they choose to attend another school.

At any given time, around 900 Daniels Scholars are attending approximately 200 colleges and universities throughout the United States.

Motivated high school seniors graduating in 2027 are encouraged to visit DanielsFund.org to learn more. Applications for the new class of Daniels Scholars open in September.

About the Daniels Scholarship Program
The Daniels Scholarship Program provides a four-year college scholarship for graduating high school seniors with great potential, strong character, and big dreams. Daniels Scholars receive full cost of attendance at partner schools, or up to $100,000 at other schools across the United States. More than just a financial resource making college possible, the Daniels Scholarship gives recipients access to intensive development, coaching, and engagement opportunities to prepare them as highly sought-after employees and leaders ready to give back to their communities and positively influence American life. Through the scholarship, Daniels Scholars receive the tools and support to achieve their highest goals, resulting in generationally transformative impacts for their families and communities.About the Daniels Fund
Established by cable television pioneer Bill Daniels, the Daniels Fund is a private charitable foundation dedicated to improving American life, with particular focus on Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. In addition to the Daniels Scholarship program, the Fund invests in nonprofits through its grants program and sponsors a national ethics competition.

Visit DanielsFund.org to learn more.

Daniels Fund Giving Passes $1.5 Billion Mark

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contacts: Sean Duffy, 303.718.9049, [email protected] 
Bruce Wilmsen, 720.941.4429, [email protected]

Daniels Fund Giving Passes $1.5 Billion Mark
America 250 & Colorado 150 Celebrations a Major Focus for 2026

Feb. 19, 2026 — The Daniels Fund, a Colorado-based private charitable foundation, today announced that it has given more than $1.5 billion throughout its history. Since its founding in 2000, the Fund has provided grants to nearly 6,000 nonprofit partners and higher education scholarships to nearly 5,500 students.

“For more than a quarter century, the Daniels Fund has been positively impacting American life and improving millions of lives, one life at a time,” said Hanna Skandera, President and CEO of the Daniels Fund. “Whether it is helping a child with developmental challenges, supporting people struggling with homelessness and addiction as they seek independent, healthy lives, or making the dream of higher education come true for young people, it is an honor to steward the mission Bill Daniels established.”

In 2025 alone, the Daniels Fund awarded a total of $78 million in grants and scholarships, including $51 million in Colorado.

The Fund focuses most of its giving in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming, four states that were pivotal in Bill Daniels’ life. The Fund also invests in select national projects that align with Bill Daniels’ values.

This year, in recognition of America’s 250th anniversary and Colorado’s 150th anniversary, the Fund is supporting several signature initiatives, including national partnerships to strengthen and expand civics knowledge in schools and in family homes. Most notably, the National Civics Bee, for which the Daniels Fund is the Founding Partner, has expanded to all 50 states. Students across Colorado and the nation have recently completed writing essays to enter the competition. Each state winner earns the opportunity to compete in the national finals for the Bill Daniels National Civics Award and a $100,000 prize.

In addition, to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Colorado’s statehood, the Daniels Fund, along with four other major Colorado philanthropies, has launched a film project titled Colorado at 150: A Legacy of Caring. A Future of Purpose. The project celebrates the state’s history of generosity by telling fives stories of lives changed through nonprofit organizations and other giving in communities across the state. The films are available for viewing, downloading, and sharing at www.CO150Film.com.

For more than 15 years the Fund has been a leader in promoting ethics education, including founding the annual National Ethics Case Competition.

The Daniels Fund grants program focuses on eight funding areas originally designated by Bill Daniels at the Fund’s founding:

  • Aging
  • Amateur Sports
  • Disabilities
  • Drug and Alcohol Addiction
  • Early Childhood Education
  • Homeless and Disadvantaged
  • K-12 Education Reform
  • Youth Development

High school graduates from the Daniels Fund’s four-state region may apply for the highly selective Daniels Scholarship Program, which makes college possible for motivated, ambitious students. In addition, the Boundless Opportunity Scholarship program provides funding for non-traditional students to obtain credentials that lead to upward mobility and meaningful employment.

ABOUT THE DANIELS FUND

The Daniels Fund was established in 2000 with a $1 billion bequest from cable television pioneer Bill Daniels. A private charitable foundation dedicated to positively impacting American life, the Fund has given $1.5 billion over its history to improve the lives of men, women and children in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.

Visit DanielsFund.org to learn more.