KANSAS CITY, Mo. - When it comes to advancing character-driven intercollegiate athletics, NAIA members are making the grade, according to results of the 2009-10 NAIA Champions of Character Scorecard released today by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).

The Association, which boasts a proud reputation as an arena that promotes competitive athletics, academic excellence and character values simultaneously, will recognize 204 colleges and universities and 20 conferences with the Champions of Character Five Star Award. To receive the award members scored 60 or more points on the NAIA Champions of Character Scorecard and conferences named to the list had at least 60% of its member schools making the grade with 60 or more points.

"It is rewarding to see NAIA colleges, universities and conferences taking a leadership role in the NAIA's mission to advance character-driven athletics," said Jim Carr, NAIA president and CEO. "With significant focus on using athletics as a vehicle to teach life lessons there is no doubt we will have a positive impact on our 60,000 student-athletes. Encompassing efforts from across the association signals important differences in how the NAIA conducts athletic competition. That distinction sets us apart and I'm very proud of that."

The Scorecard was crafted to convert the NAIA's vision and strategy into measurable goals and to monitor progress towards advancing character-driven intercollegiate athletics. The initiative supports performance-driven athletics while defining expectations and standards that drive successful teams and athletics departments.

Institutions were measured based on a demonstrated commitment to Champions of Character and earned points in each of the following categories: 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 obtaining zero ejections during competition throughout the course of the academic year.

Over 70% of member institutions and 77% of member conferences were named to the Five Star list. The top five schools include Cornerstone (Mich.) University, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Cumberland (Tenn.) University, Southwestern (Kan.) College and Westmont (Calif.) College. Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference and TranSouth Athletic Conference landed in the top spot with 100% of its member schools making the grade.

Five Star Award recipients will be recognized on the NAIA Champions of Character website, and receive a special web banner and certificate noting the honor. Presidents, athletics directors and conference commissioners at award winning colleges, universities or conferences also will be recognized at the 70th Annual NAIA National Convention in April.

The Scorecard process is based on the NAIA's flagship program Champions of Character, which emphasizes the five core values of integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship and servant leadership. To learn more about the NAIA Champions of Character Scorecard and Five Star Award visit www.ChampionsofCharacter.org. Kathy Busch, Champions of Character coordinator, will distribute web banners and certificates to all award recipients. Email kbusch@naia.org with any questions.

Schools Listed by Point Totals (AAC Schools are in italics) Cornerstone University, 103 South Dakota School of Mines & Tech., 97 Cumberland University, 93 Southwestern College, 92 Westmont College, 91 Purdue University-North Central, 90 Haskell Indian Nations University, 87 Johnson & Wales University, 87 Montana Tech of the Univ of Montana, 87 Xavier University, 87 Black Hills State University, 86 Aquinas College, 84 College of Saint Joseph, 84 McKendree University, 83 Southern Polytechnic State University, 83 Walsh University, 83 Oklahoma City University, 82 Viterbo University, 82 William Woods University, 82 Alice Lloyd College, 81 Bethel College, 81 Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, 81 The College of Idaho, 81 Benedictine College, 80 Union University, 80 Carlow University, 79 Columbia College, 79 Concordia University, 79 Dakota State University, 79 Lewis-Clark State College, 79 University of Northwestern Ohio, 79 Bethel University, 78 Truett-McConnell College, 78 Auburn University Montgomery, 77 Carroll College, 77 Louisiana State University-Alexandria, 77 University of Montana-Western, 77 Northwestern Oklahoma State University, 77 Oklahoma Wesleyan University, 77 Southern Virginia University, 77 Ursuline College, 77 John Brown University, 76 McPherson College, 76 Roberts Wesleyan College, 76 Tabor College, 76 University of British Columbia, 75 Houghton College, 75 University of Maine at Fort Kent, 75 MidAmerica Nazarene University, 75 Shorter University, 75 Campbellsville University, 74 Jamestown College, 74 Lindenwood University, 74 Olivet Nazarene University, 74 Vanguard University, 74 Blue Mountain College, 73 Brenau University, 73 Georgetown College, 73 Grand View University, 73 Indiana University-South Bend, 73 Martin Methodist College, 73 Mid-America Christian University, 73 Peru State College, 73 Shawnee State University, 73 Trevecca Nazarene University, 73 William Jewell College, 73 Cedarville University, 72 Cincinnati Christian University, 72 Eastern Oregon University, 72 Fresno Pacific University, 72 Our Lady of the Lake University, 72 University of Texas at Brownsville, 72 Warner Pacific College, 72 Williams Baptist College, 72 Ave Maria University, 71 Bethany College, 71 Biola University, 71 Dillard University, 71 Emmanuel College, 71 Holy Names University, 71 Menlo College, 71 Midway College, 71 Milligan College, 71 Minot State University, 71 University of Mobile, 71 Northwest University, 71 Pikeville College, 71 Stephens College, 71 Talladega College, 71 Texas Wesleyan University, 71 Voorhees College, 71 Webber International University, 71 Calumet College of St. Joseph, 70 Central Methodist University, 70 Madonna University, 70 Mount Marty College, 70 Oklahoma Christian University, 70 Saint Thomas University, 70 Baker University, 69 Concordia University, 69 Langston University, 69 The Master's College, 69 Missouri Valley College, 69 University of Rio Grande, 69 Rocky Mountain College, 69 Southeastern University, 69 Southern Nazarene University, 69 Westminster College, 69 Ashford University, 68 Bethel College, 68 Bluefield College, 68 California Baptist University, 68 Columbia College, 68 University of the Cumberlands, 68 Iowa Wesleyan College, 68 Judson University, 68 Life University, 68 Midland University, 68 Mount Vernon Nazarene University, 68 University of Saint Francis, 68 Southern Wesleyan University, 68 Avila University, 67 Bryan College, 67 Clarke University, 67 Park University, 67 Saint Ambrose University, 67 College of Saint Mary, 67 Union College, 67 Dordt College, 66 Evangel University, 66 Indiana University East, 66 Morris College, 66 Oklahoma Baptist University, 66 St. Catharine College, 66 Corban University, 65 Indiana Wesleyan University, 65 Mid-Continent University, 65 Mills College, 65 Morningside College, 65 Ottawa University, 65 Pacific Union College, 65 Point Park University, 65 Warren Wilson College, 65 York College, 65 Bacone College, 64 Bellevue University, 64 Davenport University, 64 Dickinson State University, 64 Faulkner University, 64 Freed-Hardeman University, 64 University of Houston - Victoria, 64 Lindsey Wilson College, 64 Lyon College, 64 Missouri Baptist University, 64 Montana State University-Northern, 64 University of St. Thomas Houston, 64 Siena Heights University, 64 Tennessee Wesleyan College, 64 Warner University, 64 Belhaven University, 63 California State University-Maritime, 63 Central Baptist College, 63 Doane College, 63 University of Maine at Presque Isle, 63 Northwest Christian University, 63 Waldorf College, 63 Wayland Baptist University, 63 Central Christian College, 62 Concordia University, 62 Concordia University, 62 Grace College, 62 Malone University, 62 Nebraska Wesleyan University, 62 Point Loma Nazarene University, 62 Rogers State University, 62 Southern Oregon University, 62 Spring Arbor University, 62 Sterling College, 62 Virginia Intermont College, 62 Cardinal Stritch University, 61 Dakota Wesleyan University, 61 Goshen College, 61 Hannibal-LaGrange College, 61 Hope International University, 61 Huntington University, 61 Loyola University, 61 Mount Mercy University, 61 Notre Dame College, 61 College of the Ozarks, 61 Reinhardt University, 61 University of Saint Mary, 61 University of the Southwest, 61 Briar Cliff University, 60 California State University-San Marcos, 60 Edward Waters College, 60 Indiana Institute of Technology, 60 Johnson & Wales University, 60 Northwood University, 60 Paul Quinn College, 60 Purdue University Calumet, 60 State University of New York at Canton, 60 Valley City State University, 60 Wiley College, 60 William Jessup University, 60

Champions of Character Five Star Conferences: American Mideast Conference; American Midwest Conference; Appalachian Athletic Conference; California Pacific Conference; Cascade Collegiate Conference; Dakota Athletic Conference; Frontier Conference; Golden State Athletic Conference; Great Plains Athletic Conference; Heart of America Athletic Conference; Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference; Mid-Central College Conference; Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference; Mid-South Conference; Midwest Collegiate Conference; Sooner Athletic Conference; Southern States Athletic Conference; The Sun Conference; TranSouth Athletic Conference; Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference.