North Carolina Central University will compete in the National Qualifying Tournament (NQT) 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. For Season 34, HCASC will return to in-person competition.
This year, North Carolina Central University will be competing for a spot in the HCASC National Championship Tournament (NCT), which will be held in April. The NCT winner will take home a $75,000 grant.
Returning from the 2022 varsity team are Jazmyne Abney, a senior political science and psychology major from Charlotte, and Terrell Parker, a sophomore engineering major from Cary. Joining Jazmyne and Terrell on the varsity squad are India Bowden, a senior history major from Greensboro, and Cedric Burden II, a senior biology major from Fulton, MD. Abney has been selected as the team captain. The varsity students are continually challenged in practice by ten additional team members.
The varsity team members hone their skills through practice challenges mounted by other team members, including Iyana Addison, a junior middle grades education major from Charlotte; Simone Edmundson, a senior hospitality and tourism major from Fort Washington, MD; LaTyra English, a junior recreation administration sport 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 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 Kendrick, a junior history major from Knoxville, TN; Iman Shakur, a sophomore biomedical science major from Columbia, SC; and Jaziah Terrelonge, a junior business major from Greensboro.
Senior India Bowden is excited about the competition, stating "I am excited to be representing NCCU this year. I hope I can make my family, friends and community proud while playing the game I love. We have been working hard, and I hope that this is the year NCCU will finally bring home a national [NCT] title."
Janice S. Dargan, Ph.D., NCCU humanities and anthropology professor, serves as the faculty advisor. Longtime coordinator Clayton C. Mack, Jr. is in his second year as head coach.
More Details
Honda Campus All-Star Challenge is a year-round program that centers on academic excellence, community service, leadership, networking opportunities and mentorship. It includes campus engagement, intercampus scrimmages and qualifying scholastic contests, and it culminates with the National Championship Tournament (NCT). Since 1989, the Honda Campus All-Star Challenge, one of Honda’s longest-running philanthropic initiatives in the United States, has celebrated and recognized the academic talents of HBCU students. More than $9 million in grants from Honda have provided support for scholarships, facility upgrades and other investments to improve the student experience.
When: Saturday, February 25, 2023, 9 a.m.– 6 p.m.
Where: Norfolk State University, Norfolk, VA
Online: www.hcasc.com
Contact: For more information about Honda Campus All-Star Challenge, contact Courtne Jones, Honda Campus All-Star Challenge, at 818-610-8236 (ext. 115) or [email protected].
If you are interested in supporting the Eagles at the HCASC NQT at Norfolk State University, please contact Clayton Mack, coach, at 919-530-7620 or [email protected].
Connect with HCASC via social media using #HCASC:
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/HCASC; https://www.facebook.com/groups/nccuhcasc
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/HCASC; https://twitter.com/nccuhcasc
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_hcasc/; https://www.instagram.com/nccuhcasc/
