231 Member Institutions Actively Participate In and Promote Program

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) named 231 colleges and universities to the list of Champions of Character institutions for the 2008-09 school year. This represents an increase of 31 institutions over last year. The mission of Champions of Character is to restore character values and raise a generation of students who understand and demonstrate in everyday decisions integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship and servant leadership. The NAIA and member institutions use the Champions of Character program to instill an understanding of character values in sport, and provide student-athletes, coaches and parents the training to help them know and do the right things, inside and outside the sports setting. The program is dedicated to the principle that character is a choice and that being a champion is not just about winning, but making good decisions consistently in daily life.

To be considered a Champions of Character institution, schools must complete a form which is later reviewed by a team directed by NAIA Vice President of Champions of Character Rob Haworth. These schools incorporate the five core values in the campus community and educate student-athletes, coaches, parents and fans on specific standards and expectations.

“The Champions of Character program supports performance-driven athletics while defining expectations and standards that drive successful teams and athletic departments,” said Haworth. “I congratulate these fine institutions and thank the administrators, coaches and student-athletes for playing a role in advancing character-driven intercollegiate athletics.” 

To learn more about the NAIA visit www.NAIA.org and for additional information on Champions of Character visit www.ChampionsofCharacter.org.

Institution Name, State
Alice Lloyd University, KY
Aquinas College, MI
Asbury College, KY
Ashford University, IA
Auburn University at Montgomery, AL
Ave Maria University, FL
Avila University, MO
Azuza Pacific University, CA
Bacone College, OK
Baker University, KS
Belhaven College, MS
Bellevue University, NE
Benedictine College, KS
Berry College, GA
Bethany College, KS
Bethany University, CA
Bethel College, IN
Bethel College, KS
Bethel University, TN
Biola University, CA
Black Hills State University, SD
Blue Mountain College, MS
Bluefield College, VA
Brenau University, GA
Brewton-Parker College, GA
Briar Cliff University, IA

University of British Columbia, BC
Bryan College, TN
California Baptist University, CA
Calumet College of St. Joseph, IN
Campbellsville University, KY
Cardinal Stritch University, WI
Carlow University, PA
Carroll College, MT
Cedarville University, OH
Central Christian College, KS
Central Methodist University, MO
Clarke College, IA
Columbia College, MO
Columbia College, SC
Concordia University, CA
Concordia University, MI
Concordia University, NE
Concordia University, OR
Corban College, OR
Cornerstone University, MI
Cumberland University, TN
University of the Cumberlands, KY
Daemon College, NY
Dakota State University, SD
Dakota Wesleyan University, SD
Dana College, NE
Davenport University, MI
Dickinson State University, ND
Dillard University, LA
Doane College, NE
Dordt College, IA
Eastern Oregon University, OR
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, AZ
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, FL
Emmanuel College, GA
Evangel University,  MO
The Evergreen State College, WA
Faulkner University, AL
Fisher College, MA
Freed-Hardeman University, TN
Fresno-Pacific University, CA
Friends University, KS
Georgetown College, KY
Goshen College, IN
Grace College, IN
Graceland University, IA
Grand View University, IA
University of Great Falls, MT
Hannibal-LaGrange College, MO
Hastings College, NE
Holy Cross College, IN
Holy Names University, CA
Hope International University, CA
Houghton College, NY

University of Houston-Victoria, TX
Huntington University, IN
The College of Idaho, ID
Indiana Institute of Technology, IN
Indiana University East, IN
Indiana University Northwest, IN
Indiana University South Bend, IN
Indiana University Southeast, IN
Indiana Wesleyan University, IN
Iowa Wesleyan College, IA
Jamestown College, ND
Jarvis Christian College, TX
John Brown University, AR
Johnson and Wales University, FL
Judson University, IL
Kansas Wesleyan University, KS
Kentucky Christian University, KY
Lambuth University, TN
Langston University, OK
Lee University, TN
Life University, GA
Lindenwood University, MO
Lindsey Wilson College, KY
Louisiana State University at Alexandria, LA
Lousiana State University in Shreveport, LA
Loyola University, LA
Lubbock Christian University, TX
Lyon College, AR
Madonna University, MI
University of Maine at Fort Kent, ME
University of Maine at Machias, ME
University of Maine at Presque Isle, ME
Malone University, OH
Martin Methodist College, TN
Marygrove College, MI
The Master's College, CA
Mayville State University, ND
McKendree University, IL
Menlo College, CA
University of Michigan-Dearborn, MI
Mid-America Christian University, OK
Mid-Continent University, KY
MidAmerica Nazarene University, KS
Midland Lutheran College, NE
Milligan College, TN
Mills College, CA
Minot State University, ND
Missouri Baptist University, MO
Missouri Valley College, MO
University of Mobile, AL
University of Montana-Western, MT
Morningside College, IA
Morris College, SC
Mount Marty College, SD
Mount Mercy College, IA

Mount Vernon Nazarene University, OH
Mountain State University, WV
Nebraska Wesleyan University, NE
Northwest Christian University, OR
Northwest University, WA
Northwestern College, IA
University of Northwestern Ohio

Northwood University, FL
Northwood University, TX
Notre Dame College, OH
Oklahoma Baptist University, OK
Oklahoma Christian University, OK
Oklahoma Wesleyan University, OK
Olivet Nazarene University, IL
Oregon Institute of Technology, OR
Ottawa University, KS
Our Lady of the Lake University, TX
College of the Ozarks, MO
Pacific Union College, CA
Park University, MO
Patten University, CA
Paul Quinn College, TX
Peru State College, NE
Philander Smith College, AR
Point Loma Nazarene University, CA
Point Park University, PA
Purdue University Calumet, IN
Purdue University-North Central, IN
Reinhardt College, GA
University of Rio Grande, OH
Roberts Wesleyan College, NY
Rogers State University, OK
Saint Ambrose University, IA
Saint Catherine College, KY
University of Saint Francis, IL
University of Saint Francis, IN
Saint Gregory's University, OK
College of Saint Joseph, VT
Saint Louis College of Pharmacy, MO
Saint Thomas University, FL
University of Saint Thomas, TX
Saint Xavier University, IL
San Diego Christian College, CA
Savannah College of Art and Design, GA
University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma, OK
Shawnee State University, OH
Shorter College, GA
Siena Heights University, MI
Simon Fraser University, BC
Simpson University, CA
University of Sioux Falls, SD
University of South Carolina Beaufort, SC
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, SD
Southeastern University, FL
Southern Nazarene University, OK

Southern Oregon University, OR
Southern Polytechnic State University, GA
Southern Wesleyan University, SC
University of the Southwest, NM
Southwestern Assemblies of God University, TX
Southwestern College, AZ
Southwestern College, KS
Spring Arbor University, MI
Spring Hill College, AL
State University of New York at Canton, NY
Stephens College, MO
Sterling College, KS
Tabor College, KS
Taylor University, IN
Tennessee Wesleyan College, TN
University of Texas at Brownsville, TX
Texas College, TX
Texas Wesleyan University, TX
Trevecca Nazarene University, TN
Trinity Christian College, IL
Trinity International University, IL
Union College, KY
Union University, TN
Ursuline College, OH
Valley City State University, ND
Vanguard University, CA
Virginia Intermont College, VA
Viterbo University, WI
Voorhees College, SC
Waldorf College, IA
Walsh University, OH
Warner University, FL
Wayland Baptist University, TX
Webber International University, FL
Westminster College, UT
Wiley College, TX
William Carey University, MS
William Jessup University, CA
William Jewell College, MO
William Penn University, IA
William Woods University, MO
Williams Baptist College, AR
Xavier University, LA

-NAIA-
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) is the governing body for athletics programs at its nearly 300 colleges and universities throughout the United States and Canada. The long-held mission of the NAIA is to promote the education and development of well-rounded students and productive citizens through intercollegiate athletics. The association offers equitable access and opportunities for participation in its 23 national championship events held annually throughout the country.

Today, the NAIA strengthens its commitment to student-athletes and strives to enrich their college experience by supporting academic achievement and character development. NAIA Champions of Character is the association’s innovative flagship program designed to instill character values in student-athletes, coaches and youth in the communities it serves.