(Ann Arbor, MI) Concordia University has been recognized as a Five Star Award winner in the NAIA Champions of Character Scorecard. Every year, each NAIA institution and conference demonstrates their progress in pursuing character-driven athletics. The Champions of Character Scorecard measures growth in training, promotion, conduct in competition and commitment in five key areas with a possibility of 100 points. Institutions can be recognized as Champions of Character Five-Star Institutions at three different levels: Gold (90-100 points), Silver (75-89 points) and Bronze (60-74). This year there were 181 member institutions awarded.
The Concordia Cardinals are recipients of the Gold Medallion level as one of the 68 schools to earn a perfect score of 100. The Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) had seven members earn the award with Madonna University and Lourdes University joining the Cardinals as perfect gold star institutions. Indiana Tech University and University of Michigan-Dearborn also earned gold star status while Siena Heights University achieved silver status and Aquinas College was a bronze institution.
"As an athletic department we strive to encourage our student-athletes to be servant leaders both on their teams and in the community. We are very excited that the NAIA has recognized our teams for their commitment to being Champions of Character," Director of Athletics, Lonnie Pries commented on the honor.
Under Pries' direction, the Cardinals strive to compete under the Champions of Character five core values: integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship, and servant leadership. The school year kicks off with a day of service in which all incoming students participate in giving back to the community. All of the Concordia athletic programs also participate in their own community service events throughout the school year with last year totaling over 1000 hours. This type of community service and character is all a part of Concordia's culture and instilled into student athletes who look forward to giving back to the community and putting Christ first in everything that they do on and off the playing field.
