Harris-Stowe’s Best and Brightest Students Prepare to Compete as Honda Campus All-Star Challenge Celebrates its 25th Anniversary
Top students from 48 of the nation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities will gather in Los Angeles area to test their academic prowess
Brainpower from America’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) will be on display at the 25th annual Honda Campus All-Star Challenge (HCASC) National Championship Tournament. Hundreds of HBCU students have spent the past year diligently preparing to compete in the final round of this unique academic tournament, April 12-16, 2014, on the campus of American Honda Motor Co., Inc., in Torrance, California.
This year’s road to the championship began in the fall of 2013, with 76 HBCUs vying for the final 48 slots. Through countless hours of study, drills and practice, elite teams emerged, knowledgeable and ready to take on the competition. Their goal is to beat the Morgan State University, the reigning national champions with two consecutive titles, while Morgan State will be seeking a threepeat.
The competitors will be split into eight divisions and will compete in a modified round-robin format. The top two teams from each division will advance to the “Sweet 16” and will compete in a single elimination playoff. The final two teams that emerge from the playoffs will compete for the title of National Champions and the grand prize of $50,000. The grand prize, along with the other institutional grants, will support academic activities at the participating HBCUs.
“We are extremely proud of our Honda Campus All-Star Team,” said Interim President Constance Gully. “Our Honda scholars have a longstanding tradition of commendable performance at the competition. We look forward to them bringing home honors and wish them luck as they represent our institution well yet another year. Go Hornets!”
Matthew Steven Gandolfo of Oceanside, Calif., Vincent Hagins of St. Louis, Mo., Tyler Saddler of St. Louis, Mo., and Erik Scott Shelquist of Peoria, Ill., will represent Harris-Stowe State University, under the direction of Coach Dr. Eileen A. O'Brien.
Celebrating 25 years of HBCU excellence, Honda Campus All-Star Challenge is one of Honda’s largest and longest running philanthropic initiatives in the United States. Since 1989, the program has awarded more than $7 million in grants to participating HBCUs, impacting the lives of over 100,000 students across 22 states. The participating HBCUs share in grants from Honda of up to $328,000 each year.
Through programs like HCASC, Honda is not only helping students academically, but building them up for the future, helping position them for career success. HCASC’s impressive roster of past participants includes engineers, lawyers, doctors and professors.
“Honda Campus All-Star Challenge rewards the best and brightest for their academic achievements and prepares our student competitors for life beyond school by reinforcing their strong work ethic and introducing them to a thriving community of alumni,” said Steve Morikawa, Assistant Vice President, Corporate and Community Relations, American Honda Motor Co., Inc. “We look forward to hosting the 25th anniversary class in California and treating them to a fun, four days of healthy competition.”
For more information on the 2014 HCASC, including a full list of the 48 qualifying teams, visit
www.hcasc.com. The finals of the 2014 Honda Campus All-Star Challenge will be Live Streamed on Monday, April 14, at noon Eastern Time on HCASC.com and other outlets.
Harris-Stowe State University, located in midtown St. Louis, is a fully accredited four-year institution that offers 14 degree programs in the areas of Teacher Education, Business and Arts & Sciences. In 2013, HSSU ranked no. 1 in the state in degree production of African-Americans in mathematics (MDHE). The university, which has been in existence for more than 150 years, offers the most affordable bachelor’s degree in the state of Missouri and is home of the Don and Heide Wolff Jazz Institute.
About Honda Campus All-Star Challenge:
In 1989, Honda, with the College Bowl Company created the Honda Campus All-Star Challenge (HCASC) in support of the unique mission of America’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Historical data about the program is available at
www.hcasc.com.
Posted By: How May I Help You NC
Tuesday, April 8th 2014 at 7:30PM
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