CAMPUS | APR. 19, 2023
Students Compete at Annual Truth and Service Basketball Game
Photo courtesy of Insagram
BY MEKALA SEME
Howard University students gathered in Burr Gymnasium on Wednesday, April 12, to watch the annual charity Truth and Service Basketball game, a Springfest tradition. Every year, two teams composed entirely of students compete against each other, one team representing Truth and another, Service.
This year’s line-up was curated by the Undergraduate Student Assembly (UGSA) co-chairs, Khalil Cooper and Michael Clark. Tryouts for the basketball game were held on March 15 and 16 and were open to all students.
”We held tryouts, and unfortunately everyone can’t make it,” said Clark. “We chose the best of the best, and you’re about to witness their talent on display tonight.”
The highly anticipated basketball game was sponsored by Procter and Gamble (P&G), who treated students to gift bags with household essentials like detergent, feminine hygiene products, and tissues upon arrival.
The annual tradition references Howard University’s motto - “In Truth and Service.” Each team represents a charity organization dedicated to youth enrichment. Team Service sported white and Team Truth dressed in blue during the night’s match-up.
Founder and Executive Director of Charlotte’s Web Enrichment Center Toni Brooks. Photo captured by Christian Martin.
Team Service represented Charlotte’s Web Enrichment Center, a non-profit organization located in Hyattsville, Maryland. The organization facilitates a youth-mentoring boxing program committed to cultivating positive and productive young adults. The organization also implements a furniture donation program for those in need and serves over 100 neighborhoods in the DMV metropolitan area.
Team Truth represented Neighborhood Heroes, a Chicago-based organization founded by artist Lil Durk. The non-profit is a community-based organization dedicated to empowering individuals who facilitate change within underserved communities across the country.
Stakes were high at tip-off as each team played on behalf of their respective organization. Each team put forth their best effort in an exhilarating first half, leaving students hopeful for an even greater second half.
The energy continued throughout the night as students engaged in dance breaks, games, and prizes. During the half-time presentation, host Colonel-Joshua Higgins captured the crowd’s attention through engaging games and dance competitions. Members of the audience played multiple rounds of shooting games and battled to various trending dance trends.
Host Colonel-Joshua Higgins encouraging dance-battle participants. Photo captured by Christian Martin.
For Jersey native Mathew Kassi, the dance battles were a way for students to represent where they come from through regionally relevant dance trends.
“As someone who grew up in Jersey, I’m always interested to see dance trends from different states,” said Kassi. “I think showcasing different dance trends is a reminder of the unique places Howards students represent.”
Sponsor, P&G, also used half-time to present a $10,000 scholarship award to a Howard University student and P&G internship recipient, Robert Jones. Jones was among five students who received the 2023 Bold Leaders scholarship award.
Scholarship recipient Robert Jones with P&G representatives. Photo by Christian Martin.
After an eventful halftime presentation, the game resumed, and the crowd's energy was higher than ever as students engaged back and forth for the night’s presumed winner.
For Television and Film Major Anabelle Jones, her excitement and interest in the game stemmed from debates about who deserved to win the game the crowd.
“I was rooting for Team Service, I think they played so well,” Jones said. “Don’t listen to the haters who claimed they were cheating, they’re just not nice like that.”
Ultimately, Team Service took the winning title despite opposition among members in the audience, and did so representing Howard University’s pillar of service.