News Articles

Oakwood University Emerges as the New National Champion at the 35th Honda Campus All-Star Challenge

April 24, 2024 | Huntsville, Ala. | Norman J. Jones

Oakwood University team winning the HCASC for 2024 — *The 2024 Honda Campus All-Star Challenge winning team, coached by Steven Lai Hing, includes Jonathan Gunthrope, Hannah Browning, Janiah Hinds, and Grayson Mejia. Photo provided by Oakwood University*

Oakwood University has emerged as the new national champion at the 35th Honda Campus All-Star Challenge (HCASC) held on April 12, 2024. The Alabama-based university defeated 31 other teams to take home the title and a $100,000 institutional grant. Howard University, Spelman College, and Morehouse College finished in the top four.

HCASC is known as the nation’s premier historically Black college and university (HBCU) academic competition, and this year’s theme was “Live Your Dream.” It was Oakwood University’s 28th appearance at the HCASC and the school’s fourth win.

The 2024 winning team was coached by Steven Lai Hing and led by team captain Jonathan Gunthrope, alongside Hannah Browning, Janiah Hinds, and Grayson Mejia. The team’s dynamic performance, work ethic, drive, and sportsmanship earned them the championship title.

“Winning HCASC in one word? Unbelievable,” said Mejia. “This is my fourth year competing, and I just really can’t believe it happened.”

“Congratulations to the scholars from Oakwood University on their dynamic performance and national championship win at the 2024 Honda Campus All-Star Challenge,” said Yvette Hunsicker, vice president of Corporate Social Responsibility and Inclusion & Diversity at American Honda Motor Co., Inc. “On behalf of Honda, we applaud all the 35th-anniversary HCASC participants on their exemplary display of HBCU excellence. We also thank all the volunteers and alumni who made this year’s program possible.”

Leslie Pollard, president of Oakwood University, expressed his immense pride in the team’s achievement. “This victory is more than just a win in a competition; it’s a reflection of the dedication, intelligence, and spirit of our students and the supportive community at Oakwood University. We are incredibly proud of our team’s accomplishment and the positive light they have shone on the academic excellence within the HBCU community,” said Pollard.

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For more information on the Honda Campus All-Star Challenge, please visit https://www.hcasc.com. Founded in 1989, HCASC is based on College Bowl—the Varsity Sport of the Mind and supports the unique mission of America’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Approximately 150,000 HBCU students have competed in HCASC since its inception.

CLICK HERE to watch the 2024 Honda All-Star Challenge National Championship.

— Norman J. Jones is executive director of integrated marketing and public relations for Oakwood University.

Final Day of the North American Division Year-End Meeting Is a Tour De Force Through Ministry Reports and Resources

While the anchor report of the final day of the 2024 North American Division (NAD) Year-End Meeting was the treasurer’s report on the organization’s finances, the thematic focus was on NAD’s major evangelistic initiative for prayer and revival known as Pentecost 2025. On Nov. 4, 2024, NAD ministry departments and other church partners shared reports showing commitment to the initiative.

Preparing for Pentecost: Worships during the 2024 North American Division Year-End Meeting

Three morning worships with two new officers and one new university president at the final business meetings of North American Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

"Let It Rain" — Pentecost 2025 Highlighted During 2024 Final Business Session of Year-End Meeting

While the anchor report of the final day of the 2024 North American Division Year-End Meeting was the treasurer’s report on the organization’s finances, the thematic focus was on NAD’s major evangelistic initiative for prayer and revival known as Pentecost 2025. And while NAD ministry departments and other church partners shared reports showing commitment to the initiative, a special presentation on Pentecost 2025 from division leaders also gave attendees a bird’s eye view of plans and recent developments.

“One Plus One to the Power of the Holy Spirit = Amazing Things”

A series of meaningful worship moments — from a message of surrender to the Holy Spirit and an altar call to an impromptu congregational singing of “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing” — set the stage for the treasurer’s report on the final day of the 2024 NAD Year-End Meeting. As she took the stage on Monday, November 4, NAD treasurer and chief financial officer Judy R. Glass continued the focus on God as our source of strength and provider. “It’s amazing to see what the Holy Spirit is already doing in this room,” she stated.

On Day Three of the North American Division Year-End Meeting, Ministries Share Reports, World Church Leadership Present Initiatives

The North American Division Year-End Meeting resumed for the second day of general business sessions (and third day of YEM) on a clear and crisp Sunday morning after attendees and guests took a day for Sabbath rest and worship. The November 3 morning session primarily focused on the report of NAD executive secretary Kyoshin Ahn, who shared statistics about the current state of church growth and the make-up of its membership.