TORRANCE, Calif., April 14, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- After more than eight months of preparation, the best and brightest students from America's Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) will compete today for the title of national champion in this year's 25^th anniversary Honda Campus All-Star Challenge (HCASC). Watch live as the action unfolds on hcasc.com beginning at 12:00 p.m. EDT.

This year's eight finalists include: Morgan State University of Baltimore, MD, who will be seeking an unprecedented third consecutive national championship title; Fisk University of Nashville, TN; North Carolina Central University of Durham, NC; Morehouse College of Atlanta, GA; Florida A&M University of Tallahassee, FL; Alabama State University of Montgomery, AL; Tuskegee University of Tuskegee, AL; and Oakwood University of Huntsville, AL

More than 10,000 HBCU students have spent a combined 76,000 hours qualifying and preparing for the final round of this unique academic tournament held on the campus of American Honda Motor Co., Inc., in Torrance, California.

This year's road to the title began in the fall, with 76 HBCUs vying for 48 slots in the National Championship Tournament. Through countless hours of study, drills and practice, elite teams emerged and earned the right to compete for the National Championship.

"We're immensely proud of this twenty-fifth anniversary class of students for the work ethic, teamwork and competitive spirit they have displayed throughout the weekend's competition," said Steve Morikawa, assistant vice president, corporate and community relations, American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "Every year we are impressed with the tremendous level of competition from all participating teams, and we wish the eight finalists luck as they compete this morning for their shot at history."

Celebrating 25 years of HBCU excellence, Honda Campus All-Star Challenge is one of Honda's largest and longest running philanthropic initiatives in the United States. Since 1989, the program has awarded more than $7 million in grants to participating HBCUs, impacting the lives of more than 100,000 students across 22 states. The participating HBCUs share in grants from Honda of up to $328,000 each year.

The White House Initiative on HBCUs recently announced its first class of HBCU All-Stars. Among the group of 75 students, academics and civic leaders honored by the President were five current and former HCASC participants.

Through programs like HCASC, Honda is not only helping students academically, but helping position them for future career success. HCASC's impressive roster of past participants includes engineers, lawyers, doctors and professors. A number of high profile former HCASC participants have been inducted into the HCASC Hall of Fame, including current ESPN anchor, Bomani Jones, who participated in two HCASC competitions between 1999 and 2001, serving as team captain of Clark Atlanta University in 2001.

For more information on the 2014 HCASC, including a full list of the 48 teams that qualified, visit www.hcasc.com. Connect with HCASC on Facebook (www.facebook.com/HCASC) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/HCASC), using the hashtag #HCASC.

About Honda Campus All-Star Challenge:
In 1989, Honda, with the College Bowl Company created the Honda Campus All-Star Challenge (HCASC) in support of the unique mission of America's Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Historical data about the program is available at www.hcasc.com.

About Honda:
American Honda Motor Co., Inc., was founded in 1959 as the U.S. sales and marketing subsidiary of Honda Motor Co., Ltd.  Honda currently produces automobiles, motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, lawn mowers and engines at its eleven major U.S. manufacturing operations, using domestic and globally sourced parts. Honda's long-standing commitment to the support and success of the nation's Historically Black Colleges and Universities began 25 years ago with the creation of the Honda Campus All-Star Challenge, a program designed to showcase the academic gifts and prowess of HBCU students. Honda Battle of the Bands was established 12 years ago as an effort to support HBCU music programs.

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SOURCE American Honda Motor Co., Inc.