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Frankfort, KY - Kentucky State University’s (KSU) Honda Campus All-Star Challenge (HCASC) Team has qualified to compete in this year’s Honda Campus All-Star Challenge National Championship Tournament in Torrance, California. The annual trivia competition highlights the academic excellence of HBCU students around the nation. This year, KSU will be represented by students Ciara Robinson, a senior political science and criminal justice major; Mylah Smith, a senior nursing major; Debrianna Smith, a sophomore nursing major; and De’Aira Watts, a junior agriculture major.

After successfully competing at Prairie View A&M University in one of six National Qualifying Tournaments, the team advanced to the Honda Campus All-Star Challenge National Championship which will be held from April 12 to April 16. If the team successfully competes against their opponents during this stage, they will go on to compete in the final round at the Honda studio. 

“What this team has accomplished is nothing short of remarkable,” said the team’s Head Coach Zachary Atwell, KSU General Counsel and Board Secretary. “Despite featuring two first-time competitors, the team has secured a coveted spot in the national tournament in Los Angeles.” 

Atwell and Assistant Coach Grant Stepp, Athletic Director at KSU, have been supporting the team in honing in their skills. 

“To prepare for LA, the team practices on Tuesdays and Thursdays for one and a half hours. During practices, we recreate tournament conditions by splitting the team into pairs and having them compete against each other,” explained Atwell. “As a result, their quick recall and buzzer skills have improved considerably since we first began practicing in October. Success at an HCASC tournament, like at any trivia competition, demands an encyclopedic knowledge that spans current events, scientific concepts, award-winning literature, historical turning points, and global geography, among many other topics. The team understands this challenge, and they’ve all committed themselves to rigorous independent study beyond our practice sessions.”  

The prizes for this year include $75,000 for the winning team, $30,000 for the runner-up, and between $20,000 and $3,000 for all remaining teams. The team plans to reinvest their winnings toward future tournaments, competitions, and practices.

“[Winning] would mean a lot. I think that it would speak to the hard work we put in,” said Team Captain, Ciara Robinson. “I would be unbelievably proud as a captain, especially having a new team that haven’t all played together prior to this year.” 

A potential win isn’t the only thing Robinson and her team look forward to. She also expressed gratitude for the ability to expand their horizons through HCASC, especially regarding the lasting connections they have been able to make throughout this experience.

“Honda lives by the idea that you make friends for life and there are people that I will carry these memories with. ... I will definitely remember each of my team members,” said Robinson. “Since I’ve been here, I’ve had six team members and ... each one of them is unabashedly themselves and has given me great experiences. I will carry with me them in my heart; they will be my friends forever.”

The team welcomes any students interested in participating, even individuals with no experience. Those interested in joining the team can reach out to coaches Atwell or Stepp at zachary.atwell@kysu.edu or grant.stepp@kysu.edu. Practice is held Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5 p.m. in the Carl M. Hill Student Center.