AAMU Earns Grant During National Academic Showdown

Alabama A&M University made its 30th appearance in the 36th Honda Campus All-Star Challenge (HCASC) National Championship Tournament in Torrance, California, held April 12–16, 2025.

Recognized as America’s premier academic competition among Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), HCASC annually brings together more than 325 HBCU students, coaches, presidents, and institutional representatives. The event offers an enriching combination of academic competition and personal development experiences that extend beyond the classroom.

Representing AAMU this year was a skilled and diverse team of student scholars: team captain Opeyeoluwa Olanipekun, a senior electrical engineering major from Ibadan, Nigeria; co-captain Jamya Cathey, a senior elementary education major from Nashville, Tennessee; Terry Dukes, Jr., a junior computer science major from Camden, Alabama; and GeKhiya Brown, a freshman communications media major from Pensacola, Florida. The team was coached by Honors Program Assistant Director Carla Draper Holloway.

The Bulldogs opened their season with a dominant performance at the regional qualifying tournament in New Orleans, competing against Spelman College, Grambling State University, Southern University New Orleans, and Dillard University. A 5-1 record secured AAMU an automatic bid to the HCASC National Championship – one of just 32 teams to earn this distinction. Teams vied for a share of more than $500,000 in institutional grants provided by Honda.

At the national tournament, AAMU was placed in the Satchel Paige Division alongside Howard University, Virginia State University, and Central University. Key victories in this division propelled the Bulldogs into the Super 16 Playoffs, where they faced stiff competition from Hampton University. Hampton would ultimately go on to win the HCASC 36th national championship. AAMU’s strong showing earned the team an $8,500 institutional grant.

“After four years of intense study and competition, I can’t believe that I just put down the buzzer for the very last time,” said co-captain Jamya Cathey. “I’ve always been drawn to memorizing random facts and history and I love learning. HCASC has been an incredible vehicle for this passion and has helped to maximize my resilience, sportsmanship, collaboration, and has truly epitomized the HCASC phrase ‘Friends for Life.’ We are well-coached, and I know that the remaining players have what it takes to win it all next year.”

The Honda Campus All-Star Challenge is a year-round program that highlights HBCU academic excellence and showcases the brightest minds from HBCUs nationwide. Each team features four students who compete in a fast-paced academic quiz format covering topics such as history, science, math, pop culture, and more.

“The Honda Campus All-Star Challenge has provided a national stage for generations of talented HBCU students to display their impressive academic capabilities and the rich culture of HBCUs,” said Yvette Hunsicker, vice president of Corporate Social Responsibility and Inclusion & Diversity at American Honda Motor Co., Inc. “Honda is proud of our longstanding commitment to supporting and inspiring the next generation of leaders by providing HBCU students with the tools and experiences they need to live their dreams.”

Alabama A&M University students interested in joining this academic tradition can try out for the national team each September.

(Photo L-R) Opeyeoluwa Olanipekun, Terry Dukes, GeKhiya Brown, Jamya Cathey