WASHINGTON – (January 29, 2019), Howard University will compete in the Honda Campus All-star Challenge (HCASC), which is entering its 30^th year. The famous competition is a Q&A game that combines academic material, popular culture, and sports in a format emphasizing quick recall. African American history and culture is the focus, and Howard is preparing to make it to the finals and win! The team will compete in the National Qualifying Tournament at Morgan State University on Saturday, February 9 from 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. The competition will be open to the public.

Although Howard is building a new team for the quiz bowl, Coach John Harkless, Ph.D., is motivated. “As faculty, a HCASC Hall of Fame member, and coach for the Howard team, I’m triply excited to make another run at the championship,” said Harkless, who also serves as an associate chemistry professor at Howard.  

“From my faculty perspective, any opportunity for students to showcase excellence is what we train them for. As a former player and fan of the competition, you always want to see exciting matches that display the unique kind of talent that Honda Campus All-Star Challenge attracts.”

Over the past 29 years, Howard has won $241,500 in grants and competed in the National Championships 26 times. Harkless plans to try something new. “I’ve got some ideas for coaching and training that will take advantage of my unique perspective as a former player, and draw on the strengths of our two returning players.”

The team will be made of two experienced, former high-scoring students and newly recruited talent from across the various colleges at Howard. Since HCASC requires a particular mix of things, Harkless will have team with the “depth and breadth of knowledge, speed of recall, and faith in oneself and teammates.”

“It is my belief that you can’t get there with just STEM majors, or social scientists, or business students, or communications majors, but rather a mix of personnel who are capable of covering the spread of HCASC topics - and beating everyone on the buzzer,” said Harkless.

This year the team consists of Chelsea Parker, who will lead as captain, Sara Rufael, Kendyl Waddell, and Shakuan Frankson. The team is coached by Dr. John Harkless and coordinated by Reginald Legrier and Parris Carter.

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About Howard University

Founded in 1867, Howard University is a private, research university that is comprised of 13 schools and colleges. Students pursue studies in more than 120 areas leading to undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University operates with a commitment to Excellence in Truth and Service and has produced four Rhodes Scholars, 11 Truman Scholars, two Marshall Scholars, one Schwarzman Scholar, over 70 Fulbright Scholars and 22 Pickering Fellows. Howard also produces more on-campus African-American Ph.D. recipients than any other university in the United States.  For more information on Howard University visit www.howard.edu

Media Contact: Imani Pope-Johns, Office of University Communications, Imani.popejohns@howard.edu