For Immediate Release – 03/27/2023
HCASC, America’s premier academic competition among HBCUs, annually brings together more than 250 HBCU students, coaches, presidents and institutional representatives for a tournament that uniquely combines educational and personal development experiences beyond the classroom. After advancing in the HCASC National Qualifying Tournament in February, Shaw University is one of 32 teams that will compete in April on the corporate campus of American Honda in Torrance, Calif., for the HCASC National Championship title and a $75,000 institutional grant from Honda. Interested viewers can tune in to the livestream April 20‐21 on www.hcasc.com.
This is the 18th year Shaw University has participated in the Honda Campus All‐Star Challenge. Mariah Joi Williams, a Junior majoring in Biology & Pre‐Med from Milwaukee, WI, Matthew Carby a Sophomore majoring in Computer Science from Portland, Jamaica, Marlon Cruz, Jr. a Senior majoring in Psychology from Idaho Falls, Idaho and Ty’ana Ivory a Senior majoring in Psychology from Statesville, NC will represent Shaw University. Dr. Shelby M. Palmer will coach the team.
Honda Campus All‐Star Challenge is a year‐round program celebrating Black excellence and showcasing the academic talents of top HBCU students from across the country. Four‐student teams face off in head‐to‐head competition and must quickly answer questions about history, science, literature, religion, math, the arts, pop culture, and sports. HCASC challenges students to expand their scope of knowledge on a wide range of topics while also helping to develop their leadership and collaboration skills. With the opportunity to compete against students from other HBCUs, participants build camaraderie, gain mentorship opportunities with HCASC alumni, and make “friends for life.” Beyond the competition, Honda provides development seminars aimed at increasing career readiness and student empowerment.
This year, Honda will provide more than $400,000 in institutional grants to the participating HBCUs with many of the schools utilizing the grants to fund student scholarships. More than 145,000 scholars have competed in HCASC since the academic tournament was established in 1989.
Honda and Historically Black Colleges and Universities
For over 30 years, Honda has supported the success and dreams of Historically Black College and University (HBCU) students through initiatives including the Honda Campus All‐Star Challenge and Honda Battle of the Bands. These programs provide unforgettable experiences and opportunities for HBCU students, including meeting and networking with peers from other HBCU schools. Honda has impacted the lives of more than 200,000 students and awarded over $14 million in grants in support of HBCU education programs and facilities improvements.
To advance its leading investment in HBCUs, Honda is a member of the HBCU Partnership Challenge, a Congressional Bipartisan HBCU Caucus initiative that brings together government, industry and HBCUs to create strategic, more sustainable HBCU partnerships. Honda also has partnered with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund to provide annual scholarship funding to support HBCU students pursuing an education in engineering, supply chain management and manufacturing‐related fields.
About Shaw University
Shaw University, located in Raleigh, North Carolina, is the first historically Black institution of higher education founded in North Carolina and is among the oldest in the nation. The University was founded in 1865 by Henry Martin Tupper. Dr. Paulette Dillard currently serves as the University’s 18th President. For more information, visit: www.shawu.edu.
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