OTTAWA, Kan. – Ottawa University Athletics has been recognized by the NAIA as a 2025-26 Champions of Character® Five-Star Institution Silver Award recipient, highlighting the department's continued commitment to excellence in academics, sportsmanship, character development, and campus leadership. Ottawa was one of 203 NAIA member institutions to receive a Champions of Character Five-Star Institution Award during the 2025-26 academic year. The university is listed among the Silver Level recipients.
The NAIA Champions of Character Five-Star Institution Award recognizes member institutions that demonstrate a commitment to the five core values of the Champions of Character initiative: integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship, and servant leadership.
Institutions earn points in five key categories: character training, conduct in competition, academic focus, character recognition, and character promotion. Schools are also rewarded for exceptional student-athlete grade point averages and maintaining minimal to no ejections during athletic competition throughout the academic year.
The award is part of the NAIA's Champions of Character program, which emphasizes intentional character education through athletics and recognizes institutions that foster environments focused on leadership, ethical decision-making, and community engagement.
In addition to recognizing individual institutions, the NAIA also honors conferences through the Five-Star Conference Award. To qualify, conferences must establish a Champions of Character Committee, maintain a conduct in competition oversight committee with at least three members, and have at least 60 percent of member institutions earn the NAIA Champions of Character Five-Star Institution Award.
Ottawa University's recognition continues the department's tradition of combining competitive success with academic achievement and character development, reinforcing its commitment to preparing student-athletes for success in competition, in the classroom, and in their communities.
