Four UDC scholars are busy preparing for the ultimate academic bowl: the 2025 Honda Campus All-Star Challenge (HCASC) National Championship Tournament, set for April 12 to 15 at American Honda’s National Headquarters in Torrance, California.
HCASC is an academic competition that brings together HBCU students, coaches, presidents and institutional representatives annually. Students from HBCUs across the country face off in head-to-head competition. Scholars must quickly answer questions about history, science, literature, religion, math, the arts, pop culture and sports.
UDC has fielded academic teams for 30 years at HCASC. This year’s team consists of four dedicated students: first-year student Savannah Aguilar-Harrison, an art major with a concentration in photography; Benjamin Cruz, a senior biology major; Mareleny "Mar" Cruz, a sophomore in political science (team captain); and Anthony Oakes, a senior English major.
Robert Dantzler, the team coach, also serves as a student success advisor and adjunct professor at UDC.
Dantzler and the scholars won’t be the only ones from UDC heading to Los Angeles for the HCASC: President Maurice Edington will be there to demonstrate the university’s strong support for the team and the event.
“I’m incredibly proud of our team for their outstanding achievement,” Edington said. “Their success is a testament to the talent, determination and academic excellence we strive to cultivate at UDC. It also reflects our strategic commitment to expanding student opportunity and support. The entire Firebird Nation celebrates their accomplishment, and I look forward to cheering them on at the national championship.”
Oakes, who was recently added to the team, said he is ready to show off his quiz skills.
“I replaced a former team member who could not continue, and the team embraced me with open arms,” he said. “I couldn't ask for a more inclusive, solidified group to experience this monumental event. None of this would be possible without our awesome coach, Professor Dantzler. His dedication is second to none and he has helped us hone our skills to a worthy competition level.”
Cruz, the team’s captain, is also looking forward to the competition.
“It’s been an amazing journey—we’ve built our team, put in incredible work during our practices, competed in scrimmages with other HBCUs, and even placed second in the regionals,” Cruz said.
Dantzler and the team have left nothing to chance in their preparation for the tournament. They practice twice weekly, using a gameplay system provided by HCASC that simulates the real competition with a built-in timer, scorekeeper and questions from various categories.
The team has also been using a quiz website called Sporcle to test and add to the knowledge in multiple subject matters and categories. Team members have also used sites like Protobowl and online Jeopardy to prepare.
Dantzler is optimistic about their chances of winning this year’s competition.
“The team has been getting in some excellent and quality practices, and they have been focusing well,” he said. “I've seen them grow tremendously since the National Qualifying Tournament—individually and collectively. They have great chemistry, and they support one another well. I believe our scholars are ready to compete and represent UDC well, and no matter what the results are at the end of the tournament, Firebird Nation is poised and prepared to leave an impressive mark.”
In addition to competing, Dantzler is grateful for the overall experience for the students.
“In addition to competing, the team will network with scholars from other HBCUs,” he said. “They will also attend a corporate networking event just for HCASC scholars. This exposure, I believe, is an ideal accompaniment in their journeys to turn potential into power. I'm grateful to usher and walk alongside them on this journey.”
According to Honda, the program has provided 150,000 HBCU students with leadership, mentorship and networking opportunities. Honda has awarded more than $9 million in grants to participating HBCUs since its establishment in 1989.