Cumberland Athletics Earns NAIA Champions of Character Five-Star Gold Institution

LEBANON, Tenn.--Cumberland University has once again been recognized for its commitment to character, academics, and sportsmanship as the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) announced its 2025-26 Champions of Character Five-Star Award winners.

For the eighth consecutive year, Cumberland earned the Champions of Character Five-Star Institution Gold Award, the NAIA's highest level of recognition. The Phoenix were one of 203 member institutions nationwide to receive the Five-Star designation for the 2025-26 academic year.

The Champions of Character® Core Report measures each institution's commitment to the NAIA's Champions of Character initiative. Institutions are evaluated in five key areas: character training, conduct in competition, academic focus, character recognition, and character promotion. Schools earn points based on their commitment to fostering character-driven athletics, including exceptional student-athlete grade point averages and maintaining minimal to no ejections during competition.

Cumberland once again earned a perfect score of 100 points, reflecting the department's continued emphasis on integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship, and servant leadership both on and off the field of play.

Additionally, the Mid-South Conference was recognized with the Champions of Character Five-Star Conference Award after meeting the NAIA's conference criteria. To earn the distinction, conferences must maintain an active Champions of Character committee, oversee conduct in competition, and have at least 60 percent of member institutions receive the Five-Star Institution Award.

Around the conference, Cumberland, University of the Cumberlands (Ky.), Bethel University (Tenn.), Lindsey Wilson University (Ky.), Freed-Hardeman University (Tenn.), and Georgetown College (Ky.) all earned Gold honors while Campbellsville University (Ky.) was named to the Silver distinction.

The recognition continues a longstanding tradition of excellence for Cumberland Athletics, which has consistently demonstrated its commitment to developing student-athletes who excel academically, compete with integrity, and serve as positive representatives of the university and their communities.

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