KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Columbia International University (CIU) Athletics has once again achieved the prestigious distinction of being an NAIA Five‑Star Champions of Character® Institution at the Gold Level, earning the highest possible score of 100 points during the 2024–25 academic year—an honor shared by just a few dozen other colleges and universities.
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) administers the Champions of Character® program to recognize schools that fully commit to five foundational values:
- Integrity
- Respect
- Responsibility
- Sportsmanship
- Servant Leadership
Institutions earn points across five evaluation categories:
- Character training
- Conduct in competition
- Academic focus
- Character recognition
- Character promotion
- Additionally, schools can earn bonus points for exceptional student-athlete GPA performance and clean competitive record—all evaluated through the NAIA Champions of Character Scorecard, which totals up to 100 points.
