Teams compete in academic tournament
By Lisa Riley
Issue date: 10/1/08 Section: News
Fourteen teams competed in the Honda Campus All Star Campus Challenge on Sept. 18, but Team Trill won the tournament and the chance to represent Langston University at the National Tournament Championship (NTC). Team Trill members included Edwin Bryant, Mister Russelle, Bradley Rulinda and Kellan Gill.
During the event, each four-member team was quizzed on subjects ranging from science and math to history. The tournament began at 8:30 a.m. and lasted until 3:30 p.m. The NTC, which will take place in Orlando, Fla., will give Team Trill the opportunity to compete for grants along with 64 other HBCUs. Forty-eight teams are then eliminated and the top 16 continue on in hopes of winning. The winning team from the top 16 receives $3,000; $5,000 is given to the winning team in the play-offs; quarter -final winners receive $7,500; and semi final winners get $15,000. The runner up receives $25,000 and the winner of nationals receives $50,000.
Honda Campus All Star Challenge (HCASC) began in 1989 when American Honda Motor Company Inc. approached the College Bowl Company to sponsor a unique academic competition for HBCUs. All 89 four-year universities are eligible for the competition.
"The program evolved to its present format whereby 64 HBCUs to compete at a face-to-face NTC," said Kyle Gregory, a former winner of the tournament. "Every spring, students, coaches, campus coordinators, volunteers, HBCU presidents, members of the Association of College Unions International (ACUI), and the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO) gather to crown one national champion."
Gregory said that over the past 19 years, more than 50,000 HBCU students have
participated in the Honda Campus All-Star Challenge, and Honda has awarded more than $5 million dollars in grants to the participating HBCUs.
"These grants have enhanced student programs, and the students' college experience," Gregory said.
Alumni from the challenge have gone on to pursue careers in science, medicine, aeronautics, industry and government. According to Gregory, many are still active in the program through campus activities, team training and other volunteer roles. Today, HCASC remains the first and only academic competition of its kind, and its graduates continue to contribute to their alma maters and their communities.
The Langston tournament is coached by Kate Corbett, coordinator of technical and outreach services for the university's libraries, and coordinated by Bea Lawrence, the counselor for students in the McCabe Honor's Program. Langston finished top 16 in the competition last year. According to Gregory, Langston will be attending two HCASC sponsored pre-NCT tournaments in the spring. The official NTC is at the end of March. Anyone may try out for the teams. Try-outs/practices are held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesdays and 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Thursdays. For more information, contact Gregory at kg2495@lunet.edu.
During the event, each four-member team was quizzed on subjects ranging from science and math to history. The tournament began at 8:30 a.m. and lasted until 3:30 p.m. The NTC, which will take place in Orlando, Fla., will give Team Trill the opportunity to compete for grants along with 64 other HBCUs. Forty-eight teams are then eliminated and the top 16 continue on in hopes of winning. The winning team from the top 16 receives $3,000; $5,000 is given to the winning team in the play-offs; quarter -final winners receive $7,500; and semi final winners get $15,000. The runner up receives $25,000 and the winner of nationals receives $50,000.
Honda Campus All Star Challenge (HCASC) began in 1989 when American Honda Motor Company Inc. approached the College Bowl Company to sponsor a unique academic competition for HBCUs. All 89 four-year universities are eligible for the competition.
"The program evolved to its present format whereby 64 HBCUs to compete at a face-to-face NTC," said Kyle Gregory, a former winner of the tournament. "Every spring, students, coaches, campus coordinators, volunteers, HBCU presidents, members of the Association of College Unions International (ACUI), and the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO) gather to crown one national champion."
Gregory said that over the past 19 years, more than 50,000 HBCU students have
participated in the Honda Campus All-Star Challenge, and Honda has awarded more than $5 million dollars in grants to the participating HBCUs.
"These grants have enhanced student programs, and the students' college experience," Gregory said.
Alumni from the challenge have gone on to pursue careers in science, medicine, aeronautics, industry and government. According to Gregory, many are still active in the program through campus activities, team training and other volunteer roles. Today, HCASC remains the first and only academic competition of its kind, and its graduates continue to contribute to their alma maters and their communities.
The Langston tournament is coached by Kate Corbett, coordinator of technical and outreach services for the university's libraries, and coordinated by Bea Lawrence, the counselor for students in the McCabe Honor's Program. Langston finished top 16 in the competition last year. According to Gregory, Langston will be attending two HCASC sponsored pre-NCT tournaments in the spring. The official NTC is at the end of March. Anyone may try out for the teams. Try-outs/practices are held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesdays and 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Thursdays. For more information, contact Gregory at kg2495@lunet.edu.
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