Oct. 4, 2013
For Immediate Release
By Chris Megginson, sports information director
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Campbellsville University’s commitment to character through athletics continues to be recognized nationally, being named an NAIA Five Star Champions of Character Institution for 2012-2013, the national office announced during the first week of October.
“It is always nice to be recognized for doing the right thing in athletics.We work very hard at stressing to our athletes the importance of having character on and off the fields and courts,” said Rusty Hollingsworth, CU athletic director.
“Our coaches are committed to helping instill the values of respect, integrity, responsibility, servant leadership and sportsmanship into our student-athletes. We want to do what is right so our campus community and fan base can experience a feeling of pride as supporters of Tiger athletics.”
With a score of 71, Campbellsville is listed among the top half of the more than 230 NAIA institutions scored by the Championship of Character Scorecard.
The award is given annually to institutions scoring 60 or more total points on the NAIA Champions of Character Scorecard, which gives points for character training, conduct in competition, academic focus, character recognition and character promotion. Institutions also earned points based on exceptional student-athlete grade point averages and by obtaining zero ejections during competition throughout the course of the academic year.
The Mid-South Conference was once again recognized for the award as a conference with nine of its 10 full-time member schools receiving the mark as an institution.
Cumberland University had the highest score among MSC members with an 88, followed by University of the Cumberlands (75), St. Catharine College (73), Lindsey Wilson College (71), Campbellsville (71), University of Pikeville (71), University of Rio Grande (79) and Shawnee State University (67).
More than 80 percent of the NAIA institutions scored at least 60 points on the Champions of Character Scorecard. All 23 athletic conferences achieved Five Star status. Eight of those conferences had 100 percent of their membership receive the institutional award.
The NAIA’s scorecard was created to provide institutions with a checklist of measurable goals on their commitment and utilization of the five core character values — respect, integrity, responsibility, servant leadership and sportsmanship — the association embraces.
Five Star Award recipients will be recognized on the NAIA Champions of Character website, and receive a special web banner and certificate noting the honor. Presidents, athletics directors and conference commissioners at award winning colleges, universities or conferences will also be recognized at the 73rd Annual NAIA National Convention in April.