TOUGALOO COLLEGE EARNS NAIA CHAMPIONS OF CHARACTER FIVE-STAR GOLD STATUS

Tougaloo, Miss. – Tougaloo College has been recognized as an NAIA Champions of Character five-star gold institution, one of only 131 institutions to earn this top-tier accolade. This prestigious recognition highlights the college's commitment to character development in student-athletes. The announcement was made on Wednesday by the NAIA, which also recognized a total of 209 institutions as five-star Champions of Character institutions across gold, silver, and bronze tiers.

Institutions are evaluated on their commitment to the Champions of Character program and earn points in several key areas: character training, conduct in competition, academic focus, character recognition, and character promotion. Additional points are awarded for exceptional student-athlete grade point averages and minimal to no ejections during competition throughout the academic year.

Gold status is awarded to institutions scoring between 90 and 100 points on the Champions of Character core report. Silver institutions score between 75 and 89 points, while bronze institutions score a minimum of 60 points. This year marks the first time Tougaloo College has achieved gold status, having previously earned silver status last season.

Tougaloo College is one of only two schools in the HBCU Athletic Conference to receive top-tier status and one of only three schools in the conference to be recognized at any level.

"We are incredibly proud of our student-athletes and the entire athletics department for their dedication to excellence both on and off the field," said Keith Barnes, Sr., Athletic Director at Tougaloo College. "Achieving gold status as a Champions of Character institution reflects our commitment to fostering a culture of character and academic success."

For a complete listing of winners, visit Champions of Character Five-Star Winners.