SU takes second place in Honda Campus All-Star Challenge tournament

Representing Southern University, Baton Rouge in the Honda All-Star Challenge were Brittani Ware (far right), psychology major; Matthew Scott (second from left), history major; Nicholas Crawley-Brown, economics major; Christina Henderson (second from right), urban forestry major; Donald Kerlegan (far left) biology major; and Kenneth Barbee, urban forestry major.

Southern University's Academic All-Star team finished second in the recent New Orleans Invitational Honda Campus All-Star Challenge (HCASC) Pre-National Championship Tournament.

The quiz bowl involved 13 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) teams from Mississippi, Illinois, Oklahoma, Missouri, and Louisiana and was hosted by Dillard University, Southern University-New Orleans, and Xavier University.

Representing Southern University, Baton Rouge in the competition were Brittani Ware, psychology major; Matthew Scott, history major; Nicholas Crawley-Brown, economics major; Christina Henderson, urban forestry major; Donald Kerlegan biology major; and Kenneth Barbee, urban forestry major.

"This was one of our strongest performances in my four years of competition," said Ware, Southern's team captain. The team went undefeated in the Texas Invitation in 2006 and defeated LSU in the 2007 Honors Council Tournament.

Southern earned number one seed in the semifinals because of its undefeated record (4-0) in the preliminary rounds. SUBR's defeat of Xavier University in the semifinals led to a best of three finals against eventual winner Alcorn State University.

HCASC is the first-ever academic competition between students at America's HBCUs. HCASC competition is open to all 4-year, degree-granting HBCUs in the continental United States. More than 50,000 students have competed in the program. Each year, 64 schools qualify to attend the National Championship Tournament.

The SUBR team finished fourth in the Honda Campus All-Star Challenge National Championship Tournament in Orlando, Florida, on March 27. The Southern team received $16,000. Ware earned $1,000 of the total by taking the individual honors.

The Southern University 2008 Honda Campus All-Star Challenge Team of students Brittani Ware, Nicholas Crawley-Brown, Christina Henderson, Donald Kerlegan, Matthew Scott, and coach William Moore were featured in a Honda Campus All-Star Challenge "Sweet 16," two-page advertisement that ran in USA Today, Friday, April 11.

The team is coached by William Moore, professor and Ella Kelley, interim chair, Department of Chemistry. Beverly Wade, dean of the Dolores R. Margaret Spikes Honors College, serves as the institutional representative.

For more information about Southern's Academic All-Star Team, contact Moore at 225.771.3990.