The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa ballroom dance team, including Earth Sciences undergraduate student and Maile mentee Alexander Picken, won their third consecutive national title at the National Collegiate DanceSport Championships (NCDC), in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, March 27–29.

Competing against 37 colleges, UH Mānoa once again took first place for “highest point average,” as well as a close second place for the overall team championship, asserting its place among the nation’s top ballroom dance college teams. Winning top honors in the highest point average requires most team members to perform exceptionally well in all events.

Read more about it in the May 06, 2026 SOEST News item.