LEWISTON, Idaho – Lewis-Clark State College earned a silver honor from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) in the organization’s yearly ranking of Champions of Character Five-Star Awards, the NAIA announced on Wednesday.
The award honors institutions that demonstrate a commitment to the NAIA’s Champions of Character program. The mission of the program is to provide training to instill the values that build character for student-athletes to do the right thing both on and off the field of competition. The five core values of the Champions of Character program are integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship, and servant leadership.
For the Five-Star Awards, the NAIA measure institutions based on a demonstrated commitment to the Champions of Character program. Institutions are graded and earn points for character training, conduct in competition, academic focus, character recognition, and character promotion. Institutions also earn points based on grade point averages of student athletes and by having minimal to no ejections during competition throughout the course of the academic year.
Based on the point totals, schools that score 90 points or better on a scale of 100 receive a gold medal, while 75-89 points earn a silver, and 60-74 points a bronze. LC State received a silver medal, although its overall score was not made available. In all, 180 schools earned honors, with 63 gold medal winners and 75 earning silver.
“This honor is a reflection of our coaches, staff and our student-athletes,” LCSC athletic director Brooke Henze said. “I’m very proud of what they have accomplished.”
Each year, the Warrior Athletic Association holds an academic lunch early in the spring semester to honor student-athletes who achieve a 3.0 GPA or better during the fall semester. Last year, LCSC had 121 student-athletes earn a 3.0 or better.
The Frontier Conference, which LCSC is a member, also received the Champions of Character Five-Star Conference honor.
The NAIA started the Champions of Character program in 2000 to create an environment in which every student-athlete, coach, official, and spectator is committed to the true spirit of competition through the five core values.