The Missouri Valley College athletic department has earned the NAIA Champions of Character Five-Star Institution Award for their conduct in competition, in the classroom and in the community during the 2022-23 athletic year. In addition to the award, the athletic department was recognized as a COC Gold Institution, the highest honor for NAIA schools.
The NAIA Champions of Character Five-Star Award was established to recognize NAIA institutions that focus on character, academics and positive conduct in competition. Schools earn points based on their involvement in those areas, including overall GPA, community service and outreach projects, character training and conduct during competitions.
Missouri Valley finished the 2022-23 school year with a score of 95 out of a possible 100 points, earning the Gold designation. Highlights include multiple community service and outreach events from multiple athletic programs, in the Marshall, Mo., community and at National championship sites, including food drives and youth camps. Other highlights include the Champions of Character pledge signed by all student-athletes, on-going training for athletic coaching staffs, outreach opportunities with the college administration, and a focused effort on displaying NAIA COC signage at athletic venues.
“I am very proud of our department for earning the Champions of Character Five-Star Institution Award again this year”, said Athletic Director Mike Machholz. Our coaches work diligently to support the Core Values of the NAIA everyday on and off the field of play. Being a Gold Star Institution is a nice recognition of all our efforts.”
Missouri Valley earned the Gold Award in five of the past seven athletic years, and has been recognized as a Champions of Character institution each year since the program was established in 2000. This year, the school is one of 62 NAIA institutions to earn the Gold Award, and one of four from the Heart of America Athletic Conference. Missouri Valley also helped the Heart earn the Five-Star Conference Award.