Named an NAIA Five-Star Champions of Character School with Prestigious Gold Status

The University of Saint Mary has been named a Five-Star Champions of Character institution with gold status by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), an award recognizing USM's dedication to excellent athletics and building outstanding student-athletes.

The program honors NAIA member institutions for instilling five core Champions of Character values in their student-athletes: integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship, and servant leadership.

According to the NAIA, member schools were graded on demonstrated commitment to the program – earning points in five categories: character training, conduct in competition, academic focus, character recognition, and character promotion. Schools earned additional points based on exceptional student-athlete GPAs and no game ejections during the academic year.

The Champions of Character program was built to monitor schools' progress toward advancing character-driven intercollegiate athletics. The initiative supports performance-driven athletics while defining expectations and standards for successful teams and athletics departments.