While America’s athletes are going for the gold in Sochi, four Stillman College student competed on Saturday, February 15, in trials for the “Olympics of the mind,” Honda Campus All‐Star Challenge.
Honda Campus All‐Star Challenge (HCASC) is a knowledge game of quick recall for America’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Now in its 25th year, more than $7 million dollars in grants have been awarded by Honda to participating HBCUs and nearly 100,000 students in 22 states have participated.
Stillman HCASC Varsity Team members Lawrence Allen Brown, II, Franchesca Jannet Jefferson, Brian Clinton Johnson, Tamba Lamin Sama Mondeh and their coach Dr. Thomas Jennings, Associate Professor of History are representing the College at the National Qualifying Tournament at Alabama State Univ. in Montgomery, Ala.
Forty-eight teams from the qualifying tournaments will advance to the National Championship Tournament at Honda’s Torrance, California headquarters. Over $300,000 is at stake this year, with the champion HBCU earning a $50,000 grant. The 48‐team field will be announced on February 20th via a live Webcast.
“This is the 25th anniversary of HCASC. It is the silver anniversary, and it’s a privilege to know Stillman is a part of a group of over 100,000 students who have participated in this program over the past quarter century. It doesn’t matter if you win or lose, the social networking, friendships and connections that students make through Honda are invaluable. The Honda All-Star motto is friends for life. Students keep in contact for years and years. I’ve heard that there have even been marriages of former Honda players. The program also gives them access to networking opportunities that they might not otherwise have. They meet VPs from Honda and other companies and develop friendships with the top students from HBCUs around the nation. These are students who go on to be leaders in business, government and industry,” said Dr. Jennings, who has coached Stillman’s team for six years.
“Honda would like to wish good luck to all the HCASC teams attempting to qualify for the National Championship tournament this weekend. The journey started at the beginning of the school year and has included long hours of hard work, practice and study, in addition to your regular academic course load. Good luck to all the teams, we look forward to greeting the Great 48 in Torrance in April.” said Mr. Stephan Morikawa, Assistant Vice President for Corporate Community Relations, American Honda.
