CORVALLIS, Ore. – The Cascade Collegiate Conference is proud to announce Lena Zahniser of College of Idaho and Jamison Guerra of Oregon Tech as the 2024–25 CCC Champions of Character of the Year recipients.
The annual award recognizes one male and one female athlete who represent the Champions of Character five core values – Respect, Responsibility, Integrity, Sportsmanship, and Servant Leadership. The award is voted on by the conference athletic directors based on nominations from member schools.
The senior softball player Lena Zahniser has made a lasting mark on the C of I campus community as a student-athlete and leader. As a math and accounting major, Zahniser has balanced academic excellence with a deep commitment to meaningful service and involvement.
As Vice President of the College of Idaho’s Association of Student Athletes, Zahniser played a vital role in shaping the student-athlete experience. She co-founded “The Yoties,” a new campus-wide tradition that celebrates athletic achievement across all varsity programs. The inaugural event, held in spring 2025, brought together over 400 student-athletes, coaches, and staff in a high-production celebration featuring season recaps, award videos, and a shared spirit of unity and pride.
Her leadership has extended well beyond athletics. She was a driving force behind a Special Olympics Field Day, where more than 300 children were welcomed to campus for a day of inclusion and joy. Zahniser also co-led a holiday food drive, helping collect and distribute over 1,200 pounds of food to families in need. Through the Legacy Program, she has mentored youth and helped expand the initiative into a second school district, promoting early volunteerism and community connection among elementary students. She continues to give back through youth sports clinics, helping younger athletes develop both skills and confidence.
“It’s great to see Lena’s hard work recognized. She’s been behind some of the biggest moves on campus, from Yoties to the food drive and the Special Olympics event. She leads by example, and this award is a great reflection of everything she’s done," stated College of Idaho head softball coach, Al Mendiola.
Other Female Nominees: Bushnell University’s Liv Tjoelker, Corban University’s Jessica McMillian, Eastern Oregon University’s Hannah Ramage, Southern Oregon University’s Meghan McIntyre, Walla Walla University’s Sahara Browning
A five-year member of the Oregon Tech men’s basketball program, Jamison Guerra has become a pillar of leadership and integrity in the Cascade Conference. A senior majoring in Applied Psychology with minors in Medical Sociology and Communications, Guerra has demonstrated what it means to be a complete student-athlete.
A three-time team captain and Chair of the CCC Association of Student-Athletes, Guerra is also active nationally with the NAIA ASA, advocating for student-athlete welfare across the country. He has testified at legislative funding hearings and represented his university in critical institutional discussions, exemplifying responsibility and courage in leadership.
His efforts helped Oregon Tech earn the 2025 CCC Sportsmanship Award, a direct reflection of the culture he helped foster through fairness, poise, and respect. Under his leadership, the Owls ran youth basketball camps serving over 350 children, hosted a K-12 Community Night, and participated in six school outreach events, including the Klamath Cares Reading Program.
He was named “a leader among leaders” in the Herald and News, showcasing the widespread respect for his leadership both on and off the court. Guerra plans to pursue professional basketball overseas and a master’s degree in sports psychology, with the long-term goal of supporting athletes’ mental health and performance.
“The impact that Jamison has had on our program, school, conference, and NAIA is second to none. His leadership led us to back-to-back National Tournaments and his work with the ASA helped grow student-athletes across our campus, CCC, and NAIA,” stated Oregon Tech’s head men's basketball coach, Justin Parnell.
Other Male Nominees: Bushnell University’s Caleb Premo, College of Idaho’s Drew Wyman, Corban University’s Tyson Stover, Eastern Oregon University’s Porter Abrams, Multnomah’s Noa Miller, Northwest University’s Joao Cerqueira Fonseca, Southern Oregon University’s Asher Tatsumi, Walla Walla University’s Thomas Mestrov