December 14, 2005

Corban athletes are Champions of Character, according to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.
               
For the fifth year in a row, Corban College this fall received the NAIA’s Champions of Character annual recognition for respect, responsibility, integrity, servant leadership and  sportsmanship.

“We’re real pleased with the fact the NAIA has such a program as the Champions of Character that includes those five core values,” said John Nelson, director of athletics. “Those five core values are very much what we’re about as a Christian organization. To see the NAIA be a part of something involved with something as good as that is very satisfying; it’s a good fit with the mission of our college and our athletic department.”

Among the things Corban has done that has garnered the prestigious recognition each of the five years the program has been in existence is the vocalized and written  reminders each game that fans are to be respectful of all the players and all fans, explained Volleyball Coach Tracy Smith.

“That’s part of good sportsmanship,” Smith said. “We also do a lot of outreaches.”

Among many outreaches, the women’s soccer team ministered in Jamaica last summer; the women’s softball team is going to Mexico over Christmas break. The volleyball team raises money for missionaries who use volleyball as an evangelistic tool. The men’s basketball team works on Habitat for Humanity projects.

“This recognition encourages student athletes to use the platform of their sports to do more than just compete,” Smith said. “It’s about student athletes getting out in their community.”

Corban’s athletic department also is involved in ministry outreach. Two recent basketball games included a canned food drive for local needs, and the proceeds from one night’s gate receipts for hurricane relief.

“The NAIA strongly believes that character cannot be left to chance and has actively challenged member institutions to intentionally teach the five core character values highlighted throughout the Champions of Character program,” said NAIA Director of Champions of Character Initiatives Rob Miller. “This year we recognized 167 Champions of Character institutions that incorporate the program and message throughout their athletics programs in effort to change the culture of sports on campus and in their local communities.”

Corban is one of 80 schools that has received the recognition during each of the last five years.

“It’s really neat that we can be a community that gets recognized for the character we are meant to portray, the character of Christ,” said Kyle Myers, junior outfielder on the baseball team. “I think the students and faculty here should be quite pleased, knowing we are portraying that kind of character, that people can see it.”

-- By Karen L. Willoughby