(Peru, Neb.) – The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) revealed Wednesday the organization's Champions of Character Five-Star Award winners.
 
For the third year in a row, Peru State scored the top mark with a perfect score of 100.
 
Traditionally, institutions are measured on a demonstrated commitment to Champions of Character and earned points in character training, conduct in competition, academic focus, character recognition and character promotion. Institutions earned points based on exceptional student-athlete grade point averages and by having minimal to no ejections during competition throughout the course of the academic year.
Champions of Character 2020-21

The NAIA worked to collaborate with member institutions to better reflect efforts that were impacted by transition and adjustments from COVID-19.
 
This is the just the third time in 12 years that Peru State has earned Gold Level status and to earn the perfect mark.
 
Bobcat athletic director Wayne Albury was more than pleased that the Champions of Character information was released. Albury stated, "I am very proud of what our student-athletes and the entire athletic department has accomplished by reaching the pinnacle of the NAIA's Champions of Character program. Especially for the third time in a row of having a perfect score."
Wayne Albury
Athletic Director Wayne Albury

 
Continuing, Albury added, "Each team has contributed to the success of the department from their academic efforts to the servant leadership – it truly has been a 'team' effort."
 
"It was even tougher this past year to accomplish everything due to the Covid-19 pandemic which forced the department and teams to be creative in doing their community service activities," concluded Albury, "but we did it."
 
A total of 157 colleges and universities and 17 conferences earned the Champions of Character Five-Star Award. To receive the award members scored 60 or more points on the NAIA Champions of Character 100-point Scorecard and conferences named to the list had at least 60 percent of its member schools making the grade with 60 or more points.
 
Only two schools from the Heart of America Athletic Conference achieved the Gold Level and the perfect 100-point status. Besides Peru State, the only other school earning the top ranking was Grand View (Iowa). In addition, Clarke (Iowa) and MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) earned the Gold Level.
 
Peru State was the only school from Nebraska to receive a perfect score.
 
McKinley Cross
McKinley Cross
McKinley Cross (Hutchinson, Kan.), the current leader of the Peru Association of Student Athletes (PASA) noted, "As the liaisons with our various athletic teams, we try to encourage our teammates to do their best, whether it be on the field, in the classroom, or in our community service efforts. Obviously, it has paid off!"
  
Out of the 157 schools earning the awards, 57 were at the gold level, 60 at the silver level, and 40 at the bronze level.
 
Vice chair of PASA, Michael Anderson (Cairo) stated, "Our fellow student-athletes know about the importance of the Champions of Character. While sometimes they might growl about doing something, they know it is for a good cause!"
Anderson_Michael
Michael Anderson

 
The Scorecard process is based on the NAIA's flagship program Champion of Characters, which emphasizes the five core values of integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship and servant leadership.
 
Addison Ghyra (Auburn), the newly elected communications officer for PASA added, "We had excellent leadership from our past officers as to what to do. We knew it was going to be tougher to do because of the challenges by the pandemic, but fortunately we came through."
 
AD Albury added, "A three-peat is great, but it just puts the pressure on for 2021-22 to make it four in a row."
Gyhra_Addison
Addison Ghyra