KANSAS CITY, Mo. – For the second consecutive year, Madonna University has been recognized as an NAIA Champions of Character Five-Star Award winner, earning the prestigious Silver Medallion.
This national honor highlights the unwavering commitment of Crusader Athletics to the five core values of the Champions of Character program: integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship, and servant leadership, both on and off the field.
The Five-Star Award is based on an institution's demonstrated commitment to character development through areas such as character training, conduct in competition, academic focus, character recognition, and character promotion. Schools earn points through strong student-athlete GPAs and by maintaining few to no ejections during competition throughout the academic year.
"At Madonna University, character development is a cornerstone of our athletic mission," said Madonna University Athletic Director
Noel Emenhiser. "This award reflects the daily dedication of our coaches, staff, and especially our student-athletes in living out those values."
A total of 210 NAIA institutions earned Five-Star Awards for the 2024-25 academic year, underscoring the wide-reaching impact of the Champions of Character initiative. The Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) was also recognized as a Five-Star Conference, with 11 member institutions receiving honors, further reinforcing the league's collective commitment to character-driven competition.
