Chicago State Takes Runner Up at Honda Campus All-Star Challenge National Championship

Astute CSU student team brings home $25,000.00

Chicago State Takes Runner Up at Honda Campus All-Star Challenge National Championship

Sharp-witted students from Chicago State University competed with 47 other Historically Black Colleges and Universities on Monday April 4, 2016 at the 27th annual Honda Campus All-Star Challenge (HCASC) National Championship. Chicago State placed second in the finals after spending a full school year diligently preparing and qualifying to compete in the national championship of the unique academic tournament. 

“I'm so very happy and humbled by the work of the students and our coaches,” said, Dr. Bernard Rowan, Associate Provost at Chicago State University and former HCASC coach.  “In one season, they've made true on the promise of 17 years of effort.  They have done the entire CSU family proud!”

Chicago State’s 2016 team is Nicolette Sanders, a junior, Isiah Samuel, a senior, Courtne Jenkins, a sophomore and Shanice Brown, Captain and, senior (all students reside in Chicago). The team was coached by Dr. Olanepikun Laosebikan (Instructor) and Mr. Brandon Morgan (doctoral student).

The Honda-Campus All-Star Challenge is a quiz-bowl competition for historically and predominantly black colleges and universities.   Held since 1989 and sponsored by American Honda.  Chicago State University participated in the national tournament for the 17th year.  An historic achievement for the university, this is the first year that CSU reached the Sweet 16, Elite 8, Final Four, and the final match in the competition.

Through countless hours of study, drills and practice, the CSU team emerged, knowledgeable and ready to take on the competition.  Students took a required course in African-American cultural literacy to prepare for the tournament.

“This is a tribute to the quality of academics at Chicago State.  Our students are first class winners who continue to rise to the occasion showing the world how to persevere.  Congratulations to our students and the Professors who were so eager to roll up their sleeves and ensure that our students remain well prepare to compete in the academic world and win,” said Dr. Angela Henderson, Provost.

For more information on the 2016 HCASC, including a full list of the 48 qualifying teams, visit www.hcasc.com.