PNC Athletic Department Earns Champions of Character Award

WESTVILLE – The Purdue University North Central Athletic Department was recently chosen as a recipient of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Champions of Character award, announced John Weber, PNC director of Athletics and head baseball coach.

The NAIA named 130 colleges and universities to the list of Champions of Character institutions for the 2006-07 school year. There are currently 281 institutions affiliated with the NAIA.

The mission of Champions of Character is to restore character values and raise a generation of students who understand and demonstrate

in everyday decisions respect, responsibility, integrity, servant leadership and sportsmanship.
The NAIA and member institutions use the Champions of Character program to instill an understanding of character values in sport and provide student-athletes, coaches and parents the training to help them know and do the right things, inside and outside the sports setting. The program is dedicated to the principle that character is a choice and that being a champion is not just about winning, but making good decisions consistently in life.

To be considered a Champions of Character institution, schools must incorporate the five core values in the campus community and educate student-athletes, coaches, parents and fans on specific standards and expectations. Each school is reviewed by a team directed by NAIA Director of Champions of Character Initiatives Rob Miller.

Within representing the five core values, the PNC student-athletes have participated in many charitable events in the surrounding area, said Weber. Recent activities include ringing the bell for Salvation Army, assisting in holiday parties for needy families, free camps and clinics and raising money to help those affected by catastrophic events, such as Hurricane Katrina.

“The Champions of Character program is a game plan dedicated to character-driven intercollegiate athletics,” said Miller. “The philosophy and approach to sport is a fundamental distinction gaining traction throughout the United States and Canada. Successful teams are built on a solid foundation and hundreds of competitive programs see the value in the NAIA and the Champions of Character model.”

To learn more about PNC athletics, contact Weber at 800-872-1231,ext. 5273 or jweber@pnc.edu. To learn more about the NAIA and Champions of Character visit www.naia.org.

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