Senior Emily Tsugawa (left) and junior Jordan Carter (right) are featured on Corban's Champions of Character billboard that is currently along the Interstate 5 southbound corridor near Kuebler Boulevard.
Corban Recognizes Champions of Character With Billboard on Interstate 5 in Oregon
SALEM, Ore. – Corban University’s reputation for the character of its athletes is recognized throughout the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), as well as publically thanks to an all-new billboard on I-5 just north of Kuebler Boulevard.
Since 2002, Corban has earned the Champions of Character Five Star Award designation nine times. The NAIA designation reflects five core values including:
Integrity, which encompasses an athlete's positive internal traits and how those traits guide their behavior.
Respect for others on and off the court, field or track.
Responsibility as a force that binds an individual to the good of the team.
Sportsmanship, with each athlete following the rules and etiquette of their sport and the game.
Servant Leadership as athletes serve others in their school, community and abroad.
A Champions of Character scorecard is kept by all member schools. Infractions such as poor sportsmanship, ejections and others can keep a school from earning the prestigious designation. However, points are also awarded based on athletic academic averages compared to the entire student body, community service and outreach and others.
“In a culture defined by win-loss records it is easy to become corrupted,” said Tim Seiber, Corban's Interim Director of Athletics. “The NAIA recognized this and made changes that put emphasis on morals, character development, integrity and academics. Even the secular community places a great deal of importance on the Champions of Character program.”
Seiber said he recognizes that some athletes, particularly younger collegiate athletes, will have trouble adopting the Champions of Character values entirely. However, he noted that coaching staff and veteran players help guide through the transition.
The ongoing efforts of Corban athletes and coaches to conduct themselves honorably is not only recognized through the Champions of Character Five Star Award, but also by the NAIA bringing national competition to Salem. In May 2013, the NAIA National Men's Golf Championships will be hosted by Corban University and the Cascade Collegiate Conference for the second year in a row.
Beginning Nov. 19 and running through mid-January, Corban University is spotlighting the Champions of Character with a billboard along the Interstate 5 southbound corridor near Kuebler Boulevard. It features Corban student-athletes Emily Tsugawa and Jordan Carter, two basketball players who exemplify what a NAIA's Champion of Character represents.
“Jordan and Emily have a humility and presence about them,” Seiber said. They move throughout our campus and the community as those who love to learn and love people. They are motivated by the right things. They are excited about the right things.”