What's New?
Student-Athletes Selected to Participate in the 2012-13 Red Cross/NAIA Collegiate Leadership Program
Fourteen NAIA student-athletes have been selected to participate in the 2012-13 Red Cross/NAIA Collegiate Leadership Program. The initiative is now in its sixth year, and will inspire, motivate and create a new and diverse generation of American Red Cross volunteers and leaders through exemplifying the five core values of the NAIA Champions of Character program...click here to read more.
Kristin Knopik-Gillette, NAIA Director of Champions of Character, featured speaker at Youth Sports Summit
On January 14, Kristin Knopik-Gillette will be a featured speaker at the third annual St. Louis Youth Sports Summit. Gillette will present a "Coaching Leadership" workshop which will highlight the importance of teaching character in sports and how to use teachable moments to develop character in young people...click here to learn more.
NAIA-CTSA "All That's Right in Sport" Award - College of the Ozarks
On Tuesday the NAIA and CTSA named the College of the Ozarks (Mo.) women’s basketball team the recipient of the 4th Annual “All That’s Right in Sport” award...click here to learn more.
NAIA Champions of Character Podcast:
Tyson Wilkins, 6th grader
Sixth grader Tyson Wilkins took on character for a 4H project and focused on NAIA Champions of Character core values. Tyson presented on Respect, Responsibility, Integrity, Sportsmanship and Servant Leadership. As a young athlete Tyson understands the important role character plays in and out of competition...click here to listen!
Making the Grade: NAIA Institutions and Conferences Recognized with Five Star Award
When it comes to advancing character-driven intercollegiate athletics, NAIA members are making the grade, according to results of the 2010-11 NAIA Champions of Character Scorecard released today by the NAIA...click here to read more.
Fox 17 Blitz: Cornerstone (Mich.) awards
Champions of Character Awards
Each week Cornerstone University (Mich.) will recognize a student-athlete who exhibits good character and sportsmanship...check out Cornerstone and Fox 17's latest video about the initiative.
NAIA and MSHSAA 5-Star Leadership Banner Program meets with huge success in its first year
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The call went out a year ago to high schools in the Missouri State HIgh School Activities Association (MSHSAA) for a new initiative, the 5-Star Leadership School Banner Program. Together MSHSAA, the NAIA and Musco Sports Lighting developed a way to recognize schools dedicated to leadership and character...click here to read more.
High school students participate in Champions of Character events at the Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I Men's Basketball National Championship
High school student-athletes from throughout Kansas City participated in Champions of Character events during the 74th Annual Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I Men’s Basketball National Championship. The student-athlete participants and honorees represent a wide variety of strengths through their scholastic, athletic and community accomplishments...click here to read complete article.
Actions speak louder than words (PlayNAIA blog)
NAIA President and CEO Jim Carr was interviewed by NBC Action News this past Monday in response to Kansas City Chiefs head coach Todd Haley not shaking hands with the Denver Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels at the end of the game last Sunday. So let’s talk about it...click here to read complete blog post.
The NAIA Partners with Central High School to Launch Yearlong Champions of Character Initiative
The NAIA is partnering with the Kansas City Missouri School District and Central High School in a comprehensive Champions of Character project to define and teach integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship and servant leadership...click here to read more.
Making the Grade: NAIA Institutions and Conferences Recognized with Five Star Award
When it comes to advancing character-driven intercollegiate athletics, NAIA members are making the grade, according to results of the 2009-10 NAIA Champions of Character Scorecard released today by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA)...click here to read more.
Peru State (Neb.) Men's Basketball Team Hangs with Kindergartners at Northside Elementary
The Peru State College (PSC) men’s basketball team took time on Friday, September 17, from pre-season workouts to visit kindergartners at Northside Elementary School in Nebraska City, Neb...click here to read more.
Purdue University Calumet men's basketball takes part in Day of Caring
Members of the Purdue University Calumet men’s basketball team spent last Friday, September 17, working at the Robert Clemente Center in East Chicago, as part of the university’s Day of Caring...click here to read more.
Missouri Baptist women's basketball participates in event in honor of coach's daughter
Over 20 members of the Missouri Baptist University women's basketball program walked as a part of the American Liver Foundation's 2010 Liver Life Walk in Tower Grove Park in St. Louis on Saturday, September 18. The Lady Spartans walked in honor of Head Coach Danny Wingate's four month old daughter, Noelle Hope...click here to read more.
NAIA and MSHSAA Launch 5-Star Leadership Banner Program
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) have partnered to launch a new character and leadership program aimed at MSHSAA’s nearly 800 member junior high and high schools and more than 340,000 youth participants. The 5-Star Leadership School Banner Program and Kit, based on the NAIA’s Champions of Character curriculum, is designed to create character-driven athletics and activities programs – one student, one parent and one coach at a time. The initiative will be underwritten by Musco Sports Lighting...click here to read more.
Champions of Character Newsletter
Summer 2010
For the latest news and features about the Champions of Character Process check out the quarterly Newsletter.
How playing sports builds better business leaders
by Eric Jacobson, Kansas City Leadership Examiner
"Today's youth will be tomorrow's leaders," says Dr. Rob Haworth, Vice President for the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) in Kansas City, MO.
"Students who participate in athletics are exposed to leadership role models (e.g. coaches) and often are required to exercise some degree of leadership with their peers (e.g. team captains), added Haworth, who is also the Director of the Champions of Character program at the NAIA...click here to read more.
Lady Senators basketball team continues visits to Angels Assisted Living facility
As the end of the school year was drawing near, a lot of students had their thoughts on final exams and what they would be doing over the summer. Those thoughts were also in the minds of the Auburn Montgomery women’s basketball team, but they spent a day during the final few days of school at the Angels for the Elderly Assisted Living Homes planting flowers and tomato plants and visiting with the residents of the facility as they have done for the past 14 years...click here to read more.
The NAIA and Heartland Soccer Association join forces for Champions of Character 
project
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and Heartland Soccer Association today launched a partnership committed to teach players, coaches and parents the importance of personal and social character as well as the methodology for growth from the status quo to a healthy and balanced youth sports community. This collaboration celebrates Heartland’s unwavering commitment to use the power of sport to teach lessons for life...click here to read more.
Champions of Character plays a role in St. Louis Sportsmanship Summit
For just three hours of their time, St. Louis area parents and coaches can make a world of difference in the lives of their kids. The time commitment is the only investment necessary to be part of an entertaining, informative program aimed at improving youth sports and sportsmanship in the St. Louis region...click here to read more.
Shawnee State University and Malone University team up in support of breast cancer education
The NAIA Champions of Character program models behaviors that demonstrate compassion, integrity, and respect. Nowhere has such behavior been demonstrated more than during the recent Shawnee State University Homecoming basketball game where athletes from both Shawnee State University and competing Malone University came together on and off the court in support of breast cancer education, and of SSU head coach Robin Hagen-Smith who is battling the disease...click here to read more.
Champions of Character Newsletter
December 2009
For the latest news and features about the Champions of Character Process check out our quarterly Newsletter.
Trevecca Men's Golf Volunteers with Franktown
The Trevecca men's golf team participated in Franktown Open Hearts Ministry Christmas Event. Franktown is a ministry reaching inner-city youth in Franklin, Tenn...click here to read more.
Blood Sisters: Lady Evangel softball team aids one of its own
Mid-America Christian (Okla.) University junior outfielder Somer Grimes is an all-around student-athlete. She played in 42 games for the Lady Evangels last season. She is a team leader, always willing to lend a hand...click here to read more.
Trinity Christian (Ill.) College's Michael Thompson Organizes Blood Drive
On November 10, instead of gathering in the gymnasium, the majority of the men’s basketball team assembled in the Grand Lobby of the Ozinga Chapel on campus to help out with a Red Cross blood drive. The event was organized by senior basketball student-athlete Michael Thompson as a part of the Red Cross/NAIA Collegiate Leadership Program...click here to read more.
The NAIA Champions of Character Program Receives $15,000 Sprint Foundation Grant
Azusa Pacific (Calif.) will be honored at the 11th Annual AT&T National Sportsmanship Awards
Those searching for civility, integrity and selflessness, take heart. There are indeed many out there in sports and beyond exhibiting those qualities and possessing the character to step up and do the right thing. Some of the most inspiring examples will be featured at the 2009 AT&T National Sportsmanship Awards Saturday night in St. Louis. The event begins at 6 p.m. in the Khorassan Ballroom of the Chase Park Plaza...click here to read more.
AUM Lady Senators participate in "Make a Difference Day" 
With basketball season underway, the Auburn University at Montgomery (AUM) Lady Senators have been working hard to make an impact on and off the court. AUM has long been a model for volunteerism in the local community and is involved in a number of youth initiatives. Staying true to school tradition, the Lady Senators recently participated in “Make a Difference Day” and volunteered at the Children’s Center of Montgomery Molina Learning Center...click here to read more.
Spring Hill College women's hoops spreads Champions of Character message
On October 23, the
NAIA Announces 2008-09 Champions of Character Institutions
The 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 the last year...click here to read more.
Columbia (Mo.) College athletes kick-off 2009-10 with Champions of Character activities
Over the past several weeks student-athletes at Columbia College have participated in various community activities. The men's basketball team spent time with children at the local Boy's and Girl's Club...click here to read more.
NAIA Launches Champions of Character Scorecard
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) launched a new Champions of Character Scorecard designed to convert the NAIA’s vision and strategy into measureable goals and to monitor progress towards advancing character-driven intercollegiate athletics...click here to read press release.
Champions of Character - August Highlights
August was a busy month for Champions of Character as coaches, parents and student-athletes participated in Champions of Character training. Check out August highlights and our photo gallery for a sampling of Champions of Character activities.
Champions of Character goes camping
Holy Names coaches and student-athletes helped campers understand the importance of each core value.
Integrity: Positive internal traits that guide the individual
Coach Dennis Jones and Coach Steve Spencer, respectively the head men’s and women’s basketball coaches, developed a fundamentals based camp curriculum in the summer of 1997. Both coaches thought it would be a great idea to incorporate a skill set approach to the game along with character education. Twelve years later the Hawks have ushered in over 500 children between the ages of 7 and 13 to learn the game of basketball.
To learn more about Holy Names University athletics visit www.hnuhawks.com.
Cornerstone (Mich.) University Champions of Character Program Center presents fall season character kick-off event
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – On Wednesday, August 12, 2009, the Cornerstone (Mich.) University Champions of Character Program Center will host an event featuring Joe Bean, former Wheaton (Ill.) College head men’s soccer coach; Jack Roberts, Executive Director, Michigan High School Athletic Association; Jim Haskins, O-K Conference Commissioner; Dave Grube, Cornerstone University Athletics Director; and Mike Riemersma, Cornerstone University Champions of Character Director.
The meeting will be held in the Hansen Athletic Center, located at 1001 East Beltline Ave. NE, on Cornerstone University’s campus beginning at 6:30 p.m. Freshman, junior varsity and varsity boy’s soccer teams from all 51 schools of the O-K Conference will be in attendance.
“By having Coach Bean and Jack Roberts demonstrate their support of the Champions of Character program shows the importance, validity and even the commitment of Cornerstone University toward changing the culture of sport,” said Mike Riemersma, Cornerstone University Champions of Character Director. “Coach Bean has the most wins in men’s intercollegiate soccer history. He is an NSCAA Hall of Fame member and was the former chair of the NSCAA Ethics Committee. He has a passion for character-driven athletics.”
The NAIA developed the Champions of Character program in response to the growing problem of deteriorating standards of integrity in sports and society. At a time when all of sport has experienced increasingly negative behavior by athletes, coaches, fans and parents, NAIA Champions of Character raises the standards for positive youth development in athletics and academics.
Local Champions of Character partners include: Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL-American Hockey League); Grand Rapids Rampage (AFL-Arena Football League); West Michigan White Caps (Class A affiliate of Detroit Tigers); West Michigan Sports Commission; and the 51 high schools in the O-K Conference.
For more information, contact Mike Riemersma at 616.254.1671.
"Are You in?" initiative in Kansas City
In an effort to start a community-wide conversation on the character of sports in metro Kansas City, MO, the NAIA and Champions of Character program have teamed up with local partners to engage youth sports organizations, school districts and parks and rec departments to raise awareness about the quality of the sport experience.
The program seeks to build a "scorecard" of experiences through surveys, roundtable discussions and in-person interviews with players, parents, coaches and administrators throughout the community. The culmination will be a Sports Circle Forum where the survey results and collective experiences will be shared in an evening of interactive discussion with expert panels.
Sports organizations and leagues that participate will be able to take the results from their own participants to identify areas where they have opportunities to improve the sports experience, including tapping into the resources of Champions of Character programming.
For more information on this approach to creating a discussion on character in sports, check out AreYouInKC.org.
Saint Xavier Women's Cross Country Adopts Honorary Member
The Saint Xavier University women’s cross country team may be ranked No. 24 in the latest NAIA Top 25 Poll, but the Cougars are No. 1 in the heart of 10-year-old Sarah Panozzo. Sarah is the daughter of SXU alumnus Jim Panozzo ’77, a former baseball standout inducted into the Saint Xavier University Athletics Hall of Fame in 2003. Sarah was diagnosed with Neurofibromatosis (NF), a genetic disorder of the nervous system that causes tumors to form on the nerves anywhere in the body at any time...click here to read more
