Buffalo Funds Five Star Award Recipients Announced for NAIA Winter Sports

Coaches and student-athletes recognized for exhibiting exceptional character values

Posted 04.13.09

ANSAS 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. The following teams / member institutions were recognized during the winter sports season: Division I Men’s Basketball / Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) University; Division I Women’s Basketball / Westmont (Calif.) College; Division II Men’s Basketball / Indiana University East; Division II Women’s Basketball / Walsh (Ohio) University; Men’s Swimming and Diving / The College of Idaho; Women’s Swimming and Diving / Mills (Calif.) College; Men’s and Women’s Indoor Track and Field / Doane (Neb.) College; Wrestling / Northwestern (Iowa) College.

The award honors teams committed to the Champions of Character program’s five core values of respect, responsibility, integrity, servant leadership and sportsmanship. The NAIA’s flagship character initiative is designed to instill an understanding of character values in sport and provide student-athletes and coaches the training to help them know and do the right things, inside and outside the sports setting. Champions of Character is dedicated to the principle that character is a choice and that being a champion is about reaching your potential and making good decisions consistently in daily life.

By recognizing outstanding student-athletes and coaches who set the standard with their approach in and out of competition, the NAIA furthers its mission to advance character-driven intercollegiate athletics. To learn more about the NAIA visit www.naia.org.

2008-09 Buffalo Funds Five Star Award Recipients:

Division I Men's Basketball - Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.)
Division I Women's Basketball - Westmont (Calif.)
Division II Men's Basketball - Indiana University East
Division II Women's Basketball - Walsh (Ohio)
Men's Swimming and Diving - The College of Idaho
Women's Swimming and Diving - Mills (Calif.)
Men's Indoor Track and Field - Doane (Neb.)
Women's Indoor Track and Field - Doane (Neb.)
Wrestling - Northwestern (Iowa)

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.

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.