Buffalo Funds Five Star Award Recipients Announced for NAIA Spring Sports (2008)

Coaches and student-athletes recognized for exhibiting exceptional character values

Posted 06.06.08

For a complete list of 2007-08 award recipients click here.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and Champions of Character founding partner Buffalo Funds present Buffalo Funds Five Star Awards for each of the NAIA’s 23 championship sports. Lewis-Clark State College (Idaho), Hastings College (Neb.), Bethel College (Ind.), University of Mobile (Ala.), Shorter College (Ga.), Georgetown College (Ky.), Doane College (Neb.) and Simon Fraser University (B.C.) received the honor for the 2008 spring sports season. These institutions and athletic programs strive for excellence in and out of competition and are part of communities throughout the country dedicated to character-driven intercollegiate athletics.

The NAIA Champions of Character program is designed 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 about reaching potential and making good decisions consistently in daily life.

The mission of Champions of Character is to restore character values and raise a generation of students who understand and demonstrate in everyday decisions respect, responsibility, integrity, servant leadership and sportsmanship.

Buffalo Funds Five Star Award Recipients – Spring Sports (2008)
Lewis-Clark State College – Baseball
Hastings College – Men’s Golf
Bethel College – Women’s Golf
University of Mobile – Men’s Tennis
Shorter College – Softball

Georgetown College – Women’s Tennis
Doane College – Men’s Outdoor Track and Field

Simon Fraser University – Women’s Outdoor Track and Field

“It is with great honor that I have the opportunity to nominate this team for the Buffalo Funds Five Star Award. I am sure there are other deserving teams, but none more deserving. The chemistry within this team is born out of compassion for each other. It is easy to let yourself down – but not so easy when it comes to letting the person standing next to you who’s counting on you not to give up. The character on this team matures everyday. They grow and learn by taking each opportunity to do so.” – Roger Doerr, Men’s Golf Coach, Hastings College

“I believe it is important for our team members to build individual character during their involvement and interaction with Doane College track and field. At the same time, we as a team, have to understand that incorporating character into our team dynamics is very important in several ways. Character takes us further than the practice and competition fields. It molds us as individuals to be responsible citizens, brothers, sisters and future fathers and mothers. It is the character that gives us image in the community that we live in and it is the same character that makes us responsible and honorable men and women. This is why I believe it is very important to incorporate character into your team dynamics.” – Otiento Obuon, Student-Athlete, Doane College

“I don’t think team chemistry is just a vital part, it’s at the very core of our team’s history of success. I am so impressed with the level of commitment, the level of dedication and the level of passion, that these young ladies display, and I know that each and every one of them will go on to achieve great things in their lives, no matter what they choose to do.” – Brit Townsend, Track and Field Coach, Simon Fraser University

“Character is very important to me and plays a major role in team chemistry and the success of a team. If you do not have team chemistry, it is hard to be successful. Each team has to learn to play as one, but on the other hand in the game of softball, there are many different roles to be filled. You have to be individuals in playing your role, but those individuals have to be committed to each other to play as a team.” – Melanie Carter, Head Softball Coach, Shorter College

To learn more about character-driven intercollegiate athletics and the Champions of Character program visit www.naia.org or www.championsofcharacter.org. For additional information on Buffalo Funds visit www.buffalofunds.com.

NAIA
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., 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.

Buffalo Funds

Buffalo Funds is the Official Sponsor of the Champions of Character program. Buffalo Funds assists in the Champions of Character program growth and is the title sponsor of the NAIA Men’s Division I Basketball National Championship. To learn more about Buffalo Funds visit www.buffalofunds.com.