By finishing first in the Norfolk State University National Qualifying Tournament (NQT), North Carolina Central University (NCCU) earned a berth in the National Championship Tournament (NCT) of the 34th Honda Campus All-Star Challenge (HCASC), America’s premier academic competition for top HBCU students. The fast-paced buzzer competition highlights students’ academic prowess and ability to answer questions about history, science, literature, religion, the arts and pop culture. This year’s NCT will return to in-person competition for the first time since 2019.
NCCU participated in the Norfolk State University National Qualifying Tournament (NQT) on February 25, 2023. The varsity team went undefeated to capture its sixth regional tournament championship since 2014. With the win, NCCU will be one of 32 teams competing in the HCASC NCT. The NCT will take place in April in Los Angeles, California. This upcoming national appearance will be NCCU’s 29th in the Honda event.
Representing NCCU in the national championship tournament will be varsity captain Jazmyne A. Abney, a senior political science and psychology major from Charlotte; India K. Bowden, a senior history major from Greensboro; Cedric Burden II, a senior behavioral and social science major from Fulton, MD; and Terrell Parker, a sophomore physics and engineering major from Cary. India Bowden is competing with the varsity team for the first time.
The varsity students are challenged in practice by 11 additional team members. They are Iyana M. Addison, a junior middle grades education major from Charlotte; Simone Edmundson, a senior hospitality and tourism major from Fort Washington, MD; LaTyra English, a senior recreation administration and sports management major from Turkey; Makala Evans, a junior information technology major from Durham; Javonta Hines, a senior behavioral and social science major from Winston-Salem; Lauren N. Johnson, a junior environmental science major from Waldorf, MD; Leah Johnson, a junior criminal justice major from Waldorf, MD; Marissa Jones, a freshman computer science and business major from Raleigh; Elena M. Kendrick, a junior history major from Knoxville, TN; Iman Shakur, a freshman biomedical sciences major from Columbia, SC; and Jaziah N. Terrelonge, a junior business major from Greensboro. Jaziah Terrelonge will join the varsity members in California as an institutional representative.
Janice S. Dargan, Ph.D., NCCU humanities and anthropology professor, serves as the faculty advisor. Clayton C. Mack, Jr., associate director of extended studies and a former player, is in his second year as head coach. Their tenure has experienced several highlights, including seven coaching finishes among the final eight teams, and a national championship appearance (2009). The coaches receive help from alumni volunteers throughout the school year.
If you are interested in supporting the NCCU HCASC club, please contact Clayton Mack, head coach, at 919-530-7620 or [email protected].
Connect with HCASC via social media using #HCASC:
