KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Friends University Athletics department has earned the prestigious 2024-25 NAIA Champions of Character Five-Star Gold honor, the national office has announced.  Gold is the highest level that can be achieved, as the five-star tiers are Gold, Silver and Bronze.

Additionally, the KCAC was named a Champions of Character Five-Star conference for the 2024-25 season.

According to the NAIA, institutions are measured on a demonstrated commitment to Champions of Character and earn points in character training, conduct in competition, academic focus, character recognition and character promotion. Institutions earned points based on exceptional student-athlete grade point averages and by having minimal to no ejections during competition throughout the course of the academic year.

"For this award, institutions are measured on a demonstrated commitment to Champions of Character and earn points in character training, conduct in competition, academic focus, character recognition and character promotion," said Kate Jones, Friends University powerlifting head coach and NAIA Champions of Character liaison.

"As the Champions of Character liaison here at Friends, it's my goal to continue to increase our involvement in producing champions of character throughout all sports through increasing opportunities for character training, recognition of athletes who go above and beyond to uphold the champions of character qualities and maintaining our focus on exceptional GPAs across all sports. I'm looking forward to a sensational 2025-2026 year."

Official NAIA Five-Star award winner release