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Clark Atlanta U Wins Honda Campus All-Star Challenge

26 March 2000

Clark Atlanta University Crowned National Academic Champion

    ORLANDO, Fla. - Three consecutive days of intercollegiate competition, 
teamwork and brain power culminated today for 320 college students from the 
nation's Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).  Clark Atlanta 
University (Atlanta, Ga.) was crowned national champion this morning at the 
2000 Honda Campus All-Star Challenge academic quiz bowl competition, after 
winning a best two-out-of-three game series against runner-up Southern 
University -- Baton Rouge, La.

    Clark Atlanta emerged as the best of 64 teams from HBCUs across the
country, to take home an institutional grant of $50,000.  Runner-up, Southern
University -- Baton Rouge took home $25,000, while each of the remaining
62 teams earned grants ranging from $3,000 to $15,000.

    The key to the competition is to be the first to quickly and accurately
answer 10-point "toss-up" questions and 20-30 point bonus questions on
history, science, literature, religion, the arts, the social sciences, popular
culture and African-American history and culture.

    "The best thing we did as a team was set our egos aside and focus on
consistency, teamwork and a willingness to fight," said Cory Brown, team
captain for the Clark Atlanta team and a political science graduate student at
Clark Atlanta.  "The sports analogies to this game are strong, but really,
this competition taught our team a lot about life -- and about realizing your
potential, dealing with adversity and moving ahead to win."

    The Clark Atlanta team included Cory Brown (Graduate Student -- Political
Science); Benjamin Armstrong (Senior -- English); Bomani Jones (Junior --
Economics); George Sands (Freshman -- Mass Communications); alternate Charles
Hampton (Freshman -- English); and Coach Gwendolyn Morgan, Professor of
English.

    In addition to showcasing the academic talent at the HBCUs, the Honda
Campus All Star Challenge focuses on providing opportunities for student
networking, relationship building and teamwork.

    "Every year the competition gets tougher, and this year's first-time
winner Clark Atlanta, demonstrates that hard work pays off," said Eric Conn,
assistant vice president of American Honda Motor Co., Inc., and founder of the
program in 1989.  "But, the real focus of the tournament is teamwork and
friendships, since students are only competitors for a few moments, but many
of the friendships and relationships gained are lifelong."

    Nearly 100 HBCU Presidents, educators, alumni and community volunteers
attended this year's event, themed "Future Power," in support of the
320 participating students.

    The Honda Campus All-Star Challenge is the only competition of its kind,
and was established by American Honda Motor Co., Inc., in 1989.  Since the
inception of the program, more than 15,000 HBCU students have participated,
and Honda has awarded more than $2.5 million in grants to HBCUs for facilities
improvements and additional academic resources.

    2000 Honda Campus All-Star Challenge Results

    National Champion:
    Clark Atlanta University -- Atlanta, Ga.
    Runner-Up:
    Southern University -- Baton Rouge, La.
    Final Four:
    Clark Atlanta University -- Atlanta, Ga.
    Southern University - Baton Rouge, La.
    Morehouse College - Atlanta, Ga.
    Norfolk State University - Norfolk, Va.