September 10, 2018

(COLUMBIA, S.C.)  Columbia College has been named a 2017/2018 Gold Five Star Institution by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), and earned a Gold Champions of Character Medallion.  They were one of 12 institutions who tied for top honors with 100 points, a perfect score.  The College has been conferred the Champions of Character award six times for embodying the five core values: integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship, and servant leadership.   
 
The Champions of Character program was established to help collegiate athletes find a balance by keeping the five core values.  Students, parents, and coaches are educated on the five core values and learn how their behavior impacts others on and off the field or court.  Points are earned based on character training, conduct in competition, academic focus, character recognition, and character promotion.
 
Kellyann Stubblefield, Columbia College Athletic Director said, “The NAIA National Champions of Character Award is truly an institutional award. It's not just about how our athletes perform and conduct themselves, but students, parents, faculty, and staff also play a role in helping us achieve points.”
 
Columbia College student athletes compete in ten sports in the Appalachian Athletic Conference—basketball, cross country, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track and field, and volleyball.  The coaches and student athletes excel on and off the field.  Six student athletes were name All-Americans and 12 were named to the Appalachian Athletic Conference First Team in 2017. More than one third of Columbia College’s student population participates in sports, and they collectively hold a 3.3 GPA.
 
“We are honored to have earned another perfect score this year. I'm very proud of our women, and for all the support we are receiving from the rest of campus to achieve our goals,” exclaimed Stubblefield.

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