Nominations for the Champion of Character Institutional Award and the Male and Female Individual Awards are submitted by member institutions to the Chair of the Awards Nominating Committee by March 15. Nominations will be reviewed by the Committee and the top 2-3 nomination packages in each category will be sent to the member CEOs by April 10. CEOs may vote for one nominee in each category. All votes must be received by the Chair of the Awards Nominating Committee by May 1 to be considered. Award winners will be announced at the Annual Meeting in May.

Criteria for the Champion of Character Institutional Award: The institution needs to show how the institution intentionally implements the NAIA Champions of Character philosophy in the intercollegiate athletic program and provide a listing of the on-campus and community leadership and involvement efforts of student-athletes and staff.

Criteria for the Champion of Character Male and Female Individual Awards: An AAC member institution can nominate any student-athlete who demonstrates the NAIA Champions of Character core values on and off the campus. Also, the school must  provide a description of the leadership role(s) played by the nominee in the campus athletic program and in the community.