(Gilbert, AZ) The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has named Park University Gilbert as one of only 62 schools to receive the NAIA Gold Five-Star Champions of Character Award for the 2022-23 school year. Buccaneer Athletics has been a member of the NAIA for three years and has earned this award all three years. This is the second time in three years it has been awarded the Five-Star Gold Champions of Character award, the highest honor, having also earned the distinction in 2020-21. .
This is a prestigious honor for the school and athletic department. Institutions were measured on a demonstrated commitment to Champions of Character ideals and earned 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.
“This honor is a testament to the hard work and dedication of not only our coach and student-athletes, but our tutors, mentors and academic staff,” said Director of Athletics Angelique Claussen. “The great thing about an award such as this one is it takes a team effort to do everything we do and we have a great team here at Park-Gilbert.”
The Champions of Character trainings included the Buccaneers coaches and players going through Raise Your Game training, Character Development and NAIA Live 5 character development.
Among the outreach events teams completed, softball, volleyball and women’s basketball teams all participated in Legacy Cares events and women’s soccer did a Friendsgiving activity.
The Buccaneers also completed many community service projects including softball doing a Diamondbacks youth camp at Chase Field, women’s soccer participating in Habitat for Humnanity and women’s basketball working with the Midwest Food Bank and Friends of the Needy to aid underprivileged and needy families.
In addition, the athletic department posted an overall GPA over 3.0 and had 0-1 ejections by either players or coaches over all sports throughout the year.
Park University Gilbert plans to build upon the successes of this year and continue many of the same programs and add additional programs and comunitty service projects for this upcoming school year.
Press Release courtesy of Park University Athletics – Preston English
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