Goshen College named NAIA Champions of Character Five-Star Institution for 19th straight year
GC remains one of eight schools in the nation that has been honored every year since the award’s inception
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Goshen College was one of 157 NAIA member institutions to earn the designation of Champions of Character Five-Star Institution when the national office released the list of winners Wednesday.
The NAIA’s Champions of Character initiative awards points to schools for character training, conduct in competition, academic focus, character recognition and character promotion. Schools also earn points based on exceptional student-athlete grade-point averages and by having minimal ejections during competition throughout the course of an academic year. A score of at least 60 points out of a possible 100 is required to earn the Champions of Character Five-Star Institution badge.
Goshen checked in among the Silver tier, the middle of the three groups in which the honor is awarded. The Crossroads League had four schools in the Silver tier and two in the Bronze section. 2020-21 marks the Maple Leafs’ second straight season in the Silver classification.
Goshen continues to be among eight schools that have been recognized as Champions of Character Institutions (2002-09) and Champions of Character Five Star Institutions (2010-21) every year since the inception of the award. Taylor University is the only other Crossroads League institution who has met the criteria in all 19 years since the program began. The Crossroads League is also the only conference with more than one 19-time winner.
In addition, the Crossroads League was named a Champions of Character Five-Star Conference based on the results of its 10 member institutions. To be recognized, a conference must have established a Champions of Character conference committee and a conduct in competition oversight committee consisting of at least three members. In addition, at least half of the league’s schools must receive the Champions of Character Five-Star Institution award.
Goshen College is a renowned college in Indiana with award-winning programs that educate the head and heart, creating global citizens who lead with courage and compassion. Rooted in the way of Jesus, GC seeks inclusive community and transformative justice in all that we do.
The Maple Leafs compete in 14 varsity sports in the NAIA’s highly competitive Crossroads League and Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference, continuing a tradition of intercollegiate athletics that dates to 1956 and included women’s competition nearly a decade before Title IX. For more information on GC athletics, visit www.GoLeafs.net and follow the Maple Leafs on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @GCMapleLeafs.
Nineteen-Time Champions of Character Institutions
Blue Mountain College (Mississippi) – Southern States Athletic Conference
Briar Cliff University (Iowa) – Great Plains Athletic Conference
Goshen College – Crossroads League
Indiana Tech – Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference
John Brown University (Arkansas) – Sooner Athletic Conference
MidAmerica Nazarene University (Kansas) – Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference
Olivet Nazarene University (Illinois) – Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference
Taylor University (Indiana) – Crossroads League
Recent Comments