Buffalo Funds Awards Champions of Character Program Center Grant to College of the Southwest

Posted on 08.28.06

- Staci Schottman, NAIA

Olathe, Kan. – The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) announced today that Buffalo Funds, in conjunction with its national sponsorship of Champions of Character, has awarded College of the Southwest (N.M.) a grant to assist with its campus Program Center initiatives.

College of the Southwest, Buffalo Funds and the NAIA share the underlying philosophy of the Champions of Character initiative through the core values of respect, responsibility, integrity, sportsmanship and servant leadership. Located in southeastern New Mexico, College of the Southwest is the only independent four-year institution of higher learning in the area and bears enormous responsibility to the region. While focusing efforts on meeting the education needs of individuals in this vast rural community, the institution is committed to providing local youth, parents and coaches with the personal tools necessary to lead successful lives of service and responsibility.

“Sports consume Americans. The culture of sports in America is spiraling downward and we feel it is important to be servant leaders on our campus and in our community. One way we can accomplish that is by exemplifying and teaching the five core values of the NAIA and Champions of Character,” said College of the Southwest Dean of Students Shawn Fouts. “In college, students are given wonderful opportunities that many other students will never have, we believe it is important for our students to learn the value of not taking these opportunities for granted and giving back.”

College of the Southwest is continually looking for creative ways to meet local needs. Since the college’s inception as a Program Center, College of the Southwest has become the primary resource for the Hobb’s Boys and Girls Club character development program. The college is continually developing partnerships to improve the culture of sports and positioning itself to be the principal source of character development within its region.

The on campus Champions of Character Program Center is in the enviable position to reach out to all existing rural schools throughout the immediate service area (approximately 21,412 square miles) with internal and external initiatives developed to reach the largest number of student-athletes possible.

Internally the Champions of Character program brings athletics and student life together through intercollegiate athletic events, intramurals and student life activities. College of the Southwest believes the Champions of Character message can change not only the culture of sports at the competitive varsity level but also at the recreational level and even the lives of students outside of athletics.

Fouts continues to oversee the Champions of Character program in cooperation with the Athletic Department and helps coordinate campus programming, speaking engagements and Community Summit Initiatives. This year, the College of the Southwest Program Center is developing and implementing a strategic innovative delivery method known as the Community Summit Initiative which takes the Champions of Character program on the road to various schools. The goal in this approach is to reach a much larger audience and have a greater influence. The college has decided to provide at least ten Community Summit Initiatives at various schools in districts throughout the area. The grant sponsored by Buffalo Funds will be used to enhance programming and help implement the Community Summit Initiative.

“The grant made available by Buffalo Funds enables College of the Southwest as a small rural college to extend its reach by taking the Champions of Character message to rural high schools and youth organizations that could not otherwise benefit from its instruction,” said Fouts. “College of the Southwest Is limited in its overall resources, but because we believe so strongly in the NAIA and Champions of Character we have done our best to set resources aside to impact our region with this powerful message. Having the backing of the NAIA and Buffalo Funds adds increased credibility to our endeavors.”

This is the second year Buffalo Funds President John Kornitzer, founding partner of the Champions of Character program, has awarded Program Center grants. With assistance from Buffalo Funds, the NAIA has developed over 25 Program Centers  across the country including centers at the United States Military Academy at West Point Department of Physical Education (N.Y.) and Martin Methodist College (Tenn.). Martin Methodist will also receive a Program Center grant from Buffalo Funds for its dedication to character education on campus and in their community. 

-NAIA- 

A leader in the development of student-athletes, the NAIA is committed to changing the culture of sport through Champions of Character. Founded in 1937, the NAIA continues to be a pioneer in implementing exceptional standards for academics, diversity, and character. Today, the NAIA sponsors 23 collegiate championships in 13 sports for its nearly 300 member institutions throughout the United States and Canada.

-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 Division I Men’s Basketball National Championship.