KANSAS CITY, Mo. – One of the most prestigious honors an NAIA athletic department can earn is being named an NAIA Champion of Character institution. The University of Tennessee Southern received this honor for the third consecutive year.

The Champion of Character program ranks member institutions into three award levels by the points they accumulate throughout the season. The levels of the program are Gold (100-90 points), Silver (89-75 points), and Bronze (60-74 points). Institutions graded on character training, conduct in competition, academic focus, character recognition, and character promotion. Institutions also earn points based on exceptional student-athlete grade point averages and by having minimal to no ejections during the academic year.

Through many pitfalls over the year, UT Southern compiled 90 points to earn the institution's gold status.

HOW THEY DID IT

• Firehawk athletes gave back to the community by volunteering to aid with the Pulaski Special Olympics.
• Student-athletes took time to participate in reading exercises at local elementary schools.
• They also helped distribute food to needy people by packing food boxes at the local food bank.
• The student-athletes also spent time helping their peers unload their belongings on move-in days.
• The men's track & field team was presented with the SSAC Sportsmanship Team of the Year award.
• FLAMES a campus student-led character organization led by example to encourage campus-wide participation in community service opportunities.

BY THE NUMBERS

131 – UT Southern was one of 131 out of 237 NAIA institutions to qualify for gold status for the 2023-24 academic year.

5 – UT Southern, Blue Mountain Christian, Point, Stillman, and Mobile were the five Southern States Athletic Conference members to earn gold status.

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