Four TSU Students Set Sight on “Gold” in Honda Campus All-Star Challenge Trials

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – While America’s athletes are going for the gold in Sochi, Russia, a team of four Tennessee State University students will be competing Saturday, Feb. 15 in Montgomery, Ala., in trials for the “Olympics of the mind,” the Honda Campus All‐Star Challenge. Tennessee State is a former National Champion.

Forty-eight teams from the qualifying tournaments will advance to the National Championship Tournament in Los Angeles in April. The teams will be announced on Feb. 20.

More than $300,000 is at stake this year. And the TSU team is making every preparation possible to repeat as champions and bring home the “gold,” a $50,000 grant to the winning institution.

“Tennessee State is excited about participating in the National Qualifying Tournament at Alabama State University in Montgomery,” said Dr. John P. Miglietta, professor of Political Science and coach of the TSU team.  “This is an excellent opportunity for our team to compete against other HBCUs, and great training for our possible participation in the National Championship Tournament.”

The Honda Campus All‐Star Challenge is a “knowledge game of quick recall” that engages the best and brightest students at HBCUs in an annual academic quiz championship . The Challenge, sponsored by Honda, is now in its 25th year. During that time Honda has awarded more than $7 million in grants to participating HBCUs, and nearly 100,000 students in 22 states have taken part.

Representing TSU this year are: Adriann N. Wilson, a junior Mechanical Engineering major from Albany, Ga.; Brandon Cantrel Bartee, junior Mechanical Engineering major from Manchester, Tenn.; Aurora Garvin, a sophomore Art major from Nashville, Tenn.; and Joseph Edward Patrick II, a junior Electrical Engineering major also from Nashville.

In a congratulatory statement, the Assistant Vice President for Corporate Community Relations of American Honda, Stephan Morikawa, noted the long hours of hard work, practice and study, in addition to regular academic course load that participants must endure to prepare for the Challenge.

“Honda would like to wish good luck to all the HCASC teams attempting to qualify for the National Championship tournament this weekend,” Morikawa said. “We look forward to greeting the ‘Great 48’ in April.”

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