IU Columbus has been recognized with the Champions of Character Five-Star Gold Award for the 2023-24 school year by the NAIA.
IUC student-athletes performed more than 3,000 hours of community service last year. They cleaned up local athletics facilities, walked shelter dogs, stocked the IUC campus food pantry and volunteered at the Mill Race Marathon, among other things.
Crimson Pride softball players and coaches also provided equipment to opponents, and soccer coaches took visiting players to Ceraland to use shower facilities.
IUC is one of 209 NAIA members to earn the Champions of Character Five-Star Award. Criteria include character training, conduct in competition, academic focus, character recognition and character promotion. Schools earn points based on grade-point averages and having minimal to no ejections during competitions.
“It’s such an honor to go from no one knowing who we are, in just our second year of existence, to achieving gold status,” IUC athletics director Zach McClellan said in a news release. “This is a demonstration that our teams, coaches, players, faculty reps and community are dedicated to developing our athletes into young people of character. We now know what it takes to achieve this high standard, the expectation is set and our goal is to maintain it.”
