The 27th  season of the Honda Campus All-Star Challenge has begun and the Albany State University team is fiercely preparing for Friday’s National Qualifying Tournament in New York City. Albany State’s HCASC team completed the first stage of qualifications and will travel to the Big Apple Feb. 5 and 6 for the next stage of the competition.

“The goal is to win the ultimate prize of $50,000 in scholarship money and to bring prestige to the school,” said Coach John Williams, professor in the ASU Department of Natural and Forensic Sciences.

The HCASC national championship tournament is a trivia competition that invites 48 historically black college and university teams from across the country to battle it out for the national title.

The National Qualifying Tournament will determine the team’s eligibility to compete for the grand prize in April’s National Quiz Championship in Los Angeles.

“I believe we are our biggest competition,” said Casey Williams, a senior, biology major from Covington, Ga., and captain of the ASU Honda Campus All-Star Challenge team.

After practice-round challenges with institutions such as Concordia College in Salem, Ala., the ASU team is prepared for this weekend’s tournament. The diverse team is equipped with individuals that have strong backgrounds in geography, biology, general knowledge, music and pop culture.

“The competition helps students learn more about their campus, informs them on world news, and gives team members the opportunity to obtain lifelong connections,” John Williams said.

With the team’s strong study habits and countless hours of practice, John Williams is confident that ASU will do well at the tournament.

“A lot of the lessons that my students are learning in the All-Star Challenge are applicable to life…learning how to prepare for success, all of these things we do in a format that is fun and enjoyable,” John Williams said.