Simpson named five-star Champions of Character institution

Simpson's Athletic Department was recently named a five-star Champions of Character institution.
Simpson's Athletic Department was recently named a five-star Champions of Character institution. | File photo
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics has named the Athletic Department at Simpson University a five-star Champions of Character institution.

Simpson was the recipient of a bronze medallion when the NAIA announced the qualifying institutions in a list that included 171 schools. The California Pacific Conference, the conference that Simpson’s athletics compete in, was named a five-star conference honoree as well.

"When I was hired a year ago, I set this as one of our highest priorities for department goals," Athletics Director Tom Gabraith said. "The medallion award is a testament to the hard work our student-athletes, coaches, and staff do outside of the field of competition to better serve the Redding community and live out our Simpson University mission of service to others."

Institutions that receive five-star Champions of Character do so based on a wide variety of criteria. This criteria includes character training, athlete conduct during competitions, focus on academics, character recognition and the promotion of character.

The five stars are the symbols that were chosen to represent integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship and student leadership. Student-athletes, coaches and athletic professionals receive training related to these five values by the Champions of Character program.