29 Years and Counting
The 2018 Honda Campus All Star Challenge (HCASC) marks 29 years of Honda’s commitment and dedication to showcasing and recognizing the academic talents of students at America’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). HCASC is one of Honda’s largest and longest-running philanthropic initiatives. Through HCASC, and since 2003, Honda Battle of the Bands, Honda has reached more than 170,000 HBCU students through experiential opportunities, networking, leadership and teamwork building. The American Honda Foundation has also supported HBCUs with grants focused on STEM education. Through all of their programs, more than $12 million has been awarded to HBCUs in grants.
Over the next few days, the class of 2018 will not only go head to head in rigorous competition, but also connect, bond, and meet new “friends for life.”
Players Become Coaches
Eleven of this year’s NCT teams are coached by HCASC alums. Hall of Famer Dr. John Harkless, who played for Morehouse, now coaches Howard’s team. Other former-player coaches are Christopher Graves & Clayton Mack (NCCU), Dr. John Williams (Albany State), Kyle Gregory (Langston), Andreas Smith (UDC), Brandon Morgan (Chicago State), Sarah-Anne Leverette (Hampton), Joshua Cotton (Jackson State), Uzetta Gresham (Paine) and Robert Myrick, Jr. (Morehouse). Another 17 HCASC alums now volunteer with their local teams.
Presidential Representation
At the Welcome Dinner, 13 HBCU executives came to support their schools. Andrew Hugine Jr., of Alabama A&M University, spelled out just what American Honda’s long term commitment to HBCUs offers our community: HOPE, OPPORTUNITY, NEW HORIZONS, DREAMS, and ACCESS.
2018 Hall of Fame Inductee
As an HCASC player, John Thomas III helped Morehouse’s team win 3 HCASC National Championships (2001, 2002, 2004). He went on to spend a year in Peru as a Fulbright Scholar, intern at the World Bank in the Dominican Republic, and teach at Chicago State University. In 2016, Thomas was elected to serve as editor of the Nashville’s St. John AME Church’s “The Christian Recorder,” whose readership serves 39 countries on 5 continents. He is the first layperson ever to serve in that role, and the youngest elected General Officer in the history of the AME Church!
New Division Leaders
Each year, The Great 48 are placed into eight divisions, each named for a noted African-American figure. This year there are 2 new division leaders: Sissieretta Jones and Fritz Pollard. Find out more about the new division leaders on our Instagram, @hcascpix.
On the Agenda
Sunday is the first day of this HCASC Round Robin Tournament! To get live score updates on your computer, head to HCASC.com. To get updates on your mobile device, go here.
After Round Robin, HCASC goes to the beach! We will be visiting the Redondo Beach Pier to enjoy the sand and sun before with your new and old Friends For Life!
HCASC Daily Buzz 