KANSAS City, Mo. - Summer Olympians aren't the only ones earning gold. On Wednesday, Goshen College was awarded the Champions of Character Five-Star Institution Gold Award for the 2023-24 school year from the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics). Goshen received the gold level for the second consecutive year after three straight years with the silver designation.

Goshen continues to be among eight schools recognized as Champions of Character Institutions (2002-09) and Champions of Character Five Star Institutions (2010-24) every year since the award's inception.  Taylor University is the only other Crossroads League institution that has met the criteria in all 22 years since the program began. The Crossroads League is the only conference with more than one on the list.

22-Time Champions of Character Institutions

• Blue Mountain Christian University (Mississippi) – Southern States Athletic Conference
• Briar Cliff University (Iowa) – Great Plains Athletic Conference
• Goshen College – Crossroads League
• Indiana Tech – Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference
• John Brown University (Arkansas) – Sooner Athletic Conference
• MidAmerica Nazarene University (Kansas) – Heart of America Athletic Conference
• Olivet Nazarene University (Illinois) – Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference
• Taylor University (Indiana) – Crossroads League

In addition, the Crossroads League was named a Champions of Character Five-Star Conference based on the results of its ten member institutions. To be recognized, a conference must have established a Champions of Character conference committee and a conduct in competition oversight committee consisting of at least three members. In addition, at least half of the league's schools must receive the Champions of Character Five-Star Institution award.

The NAIA uses a Champions of Character scorecard to see how well institutions fulfill character-driven athletics. To make the cut, a school must earn 60 points out of a possible 100. A school picks up points in character training, conduct in competition, academic focus, character recognition and character promotion. Points are also earned based on exceptional student-athlete grade point averages and minimal to no ejections during competition throughout the academic year.

The five core values of the Champions of Character initiative are integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship, and servant leadership to help student-athletes, coaches and parents do the right thing on and off the field. Two hundred nine member institutions were named Five-Star Award winners at any level (gold, silver and bronze) - 38 more than the year prior.