September 18, 2017
(Kansas City, Mo.) – The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has announced that 183 institutions out of 249 have earned the Five-Star Champions of Character Institution Award. Midway University is one of the institutions that earned the gold distinction level in the Five-Star Institution Award. This is the highest finish in the school’s history. “Our coaches, student-athletes and staff work extremely hard to represent the values of the NAIA to the highest level in the classroom, community and on the playing fields and this recognition is a direct reflection of those efforts,” Director of Athletics, Rusty Kennedy said. Kennedy added, “This is a great honor from the NAIA for our institution.” Annually, each NAIA institution and conference must demonstrate their progress in pursuing character-driven athletics. The Champions of Character Scorecard measures the growth in training, promotion, conduct in competition and commitments in five key areas with a possible maximum score of 100 points. Institutions can be recognized as Champions of Character Five-Star Institutions as three different levels: Gold (90-100), Silver (75-89) and Bronze (60-74). Of the 183 institutions that earned the Five-Star Institution Award, 66 institutions were at the gold distinction level, 76 were at the silver distinction level and 41 at the bronze level. The River States Conference, of which Midway is a member, was also recognized with the NAIA Champions of Character Five-Star Conference designation. Ten of the 13 schools within the RSC were named to the Five-Star Institution list.