Bulldog Scholars to Compete Among Top HBCU Teams for National Title
AAMU Advances to Honda Campus All-Star Challenge National Championship
After a strong showing at 2026 Honda Campus All-Star Challenge Regional Tournament, Alabama A&M University once again advanced to the 37th Honda Campus All-Star Challenge National Championship Tournament, set for April 11-14 in Los Angeles, California.
The competition, widely recognized as the premier academic challenge for HBCUs, brings together 32 teams, known as the “Thrilling 32”, who advanced through national qualifying tournaments earlier this year.
For nearly four decades, the Honda Campus All-Star Challenge has celebrated academic excellence, cultural knowledge and teamwork among HBCU students. This year, competitors will vie for a $10,000 grand prize, part of more than $500,000 in institutional grants awarded annually by Honda to participating institutions.
Representing Alabama A&M are Emmanuel Aina, a junior computer science major from Lagos, Nigeria; GeKhiya Brown, a sophomore communications media major from Cantonment, Florida; Christion Clark, a sophomore mechanical engineering major from Adamsville, Alabama; and Terry Dukes, a senior computer science major from Camden. Tyler Newman, a sophomore finance major from Kennedale, Texas, serves as the alternate. Carla Draper-Holloway, assistant director of the Honors Program, is the team’s longtime coach.
The Alabama A&M team is no stranger to the national spotlight, having advanced to the national competition 30 times.
The tournament unfolds in multiple phases, beginning with divisional round-robin play, followed by a single-elimination bracket featuring the Sweet 16, Great 8 and Final 4 rounds. The championship concludes with a best-of-three final series. Each game tests competitors through four fast-paced rounds, including three Face-Off rounds and an Ultimate Challenge speed round.
The national championship will be held near the American Honda Motor Co., Inc. headquarters in Torrance. Final matches will stream live April 16 at 5 p.m. CST at https://www.youtube.com/hcascnct.
From left, Terry Zion Dukes, Tyler Newman, GeKhiya Brown, Christion Clark and Emmanuel Aina.