Oct. 13, 2010
For Immediate Release
CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. - Campbellsville University has once again been named as an NAIA Five Star Champions of Character Institution, the national office announced Wednesday, Oct. 5. Campbellsville is listed as one of the Top 50 highest scores in the NAIA on the Championship of Character Scorecard. CU saw a six-point increase in 2010-2011 from the previous year, receiving a score of 80. It is the second-highest score in the commonwealth of Kentucky and first among Mid-South Conference charter institutions.
“We are pleased to be named a Champions of Character Five Star institution by the NAIA again this year. The NAIA has increased the requirements for institutions to be recognized as a Champions of Character Institution in recent years, and our coaches and student-athletes continue to their commitment to this program,” said Rusty Hollingsworth, CU athletics director. “I am excited about the future of our character initiatives at Campbellsville University and those which have been put in place by the Mid-South Conference.”
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.
With Campbellsville leading the way among MSC charter members, the Mid-South Conference was led by first-year member Shawnee State University in 2010-2011 with a score of 94 - the third-highest score across the nation. The conference had eight full-time members with 60 or more points on the Champions of Character Scorecard: Shawnee State (94), Campbellsville (80), Lindsey Wilson College (79), University of the Cumberlands (76), St. Catharine College (72), University of Pikeville (70), University of Rio Grande (69) and University of Virginia's College at Wise (69).
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. 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.
“In today's complex college athletic environments - where success is sometimes only measured by wins and losses - strengthening effective athletic departments and leadership is key to advancing character-driven intercollegiate athletics,” said Kristin Gillette, NAIA Director of Champions of Character. “The Scorecard supports and recognizes member institutions and conferences using sport as a vehicle to teach life lessons. No doubt this is a point of differentiation in college athletics and making a huge impact on our 60,000 student-athletes.”
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 also will be recognized at the 71st Annual NAIA National Convention in April.