KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) announced the 2025-26 Champions of Character® Five-Star Award winners, recognizing institutions and conferences that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to character-driven athletics. The Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) was once again recognized as a
2025-26 Champions of Character® Five-Star Conference, with 12 CCC member institutions earning Five-Star Institution status.
The Champions of Character® Core Report measures each institution's commitment to the NAIA's Champions of Character initiative across five key areas: character training, conduct in competition, academic focus, character recognition and character promotion. Institutions earning at least 60 points receive Five-Star Institution recognition, with Gold, Silver and Bronze distinctions based on their overall scores.
Leading the conference,
Bushnell University, College of Idaho, Corban University, Lewis-Clark State College, Northwest University and Walla Walla University each earned perfect scores of 100 points to receive Gold-level recognition.
Warner Pacific University also reached gold honors.
Eastern Oregon University, Oregon Tech, Southern Oregon University, The Evergreen State College, and Trinity Western University all earned silver status.
To earn Five-Star Conference recognition, conferences must establish a Champions of Character Conference Committee, maintain a conduct in competition oversight committee consisting of at least three members, and have at least 60 percent of member institutions earn the NAIA Champions of Character® Five-Star Institution Award.
The CCC exceeded that standard with all 11 full member institutions and an associate member
receiving Five-Star recognition.
Find more information
HERE.