Champions of Character
Cal Maritime Athletics earned one of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics' most prestigious institution awards when the organization announced its 2024-25 Five-Star Champions of Character recipients. Once unveiled, the department earned Gold Status, the highest level of distinction, thanks to another perfect score.
By earning every point on the NAIA's Champion of Character scorecard, Cal Maritime Athletics is one of only three departments in the country to record a perfect score in each of the last five academic years. Throughout that same timespan, only two percent of NAIA institutions in the nation submitted a perfect 100 on its CofC scorecards.
The Keelhaulers' fifth-consecutive Gold Status honor is the longest streak held by any California Pacific Conference institution and a new school record, topping the previous accomplishment of four straight years from 2015-19.
Institutions are measured on a demonstrated commitment to Champions of Character and earn points in character training, conduct in competition, academic focus, character recognition and character promotion. Additional points are earned due to exceptional student-athlete grade point averages and/or minimal-to-no ejections during competition throughout an academic year.
Thanks to Cal Maritime's year-long efforts, the California Pacific Conference also earned Champions of Character Five-Star Conference distinction.
The Champions of Character program is designed to instill an understanding of character values in sport and provides practical tools for student-athletes, coaches and parents to use in modeling exemplary character traits. Launched by the NAIA in 2000, the Champions of Character program addresses character issues more comprehensively than any other national program.
The NAIA Champions of Character program is an educational outreach initiative which emphasizes the tenets of character and integrity, not only for NAIA college students, but for younger students, coaches and parents in our communities.
Coaches, parents, administrators and community partners all have a role in developing students of character. The NAIA Champions of Character program brings them training, guidelines and behavior models to create positive environments that promote growth and fun sport activity.
About the NAIA's Champions of Character Program
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Champions of Character® program provides training to instill the values that build character, encourages students, coaches and parents to make the right decision, on a consistent basis, both during and outside of competition to strengthen the culture of competitive sports.
Research shows that the longer a student spends in sports, their social reasoning – sacrificing for the good of the team – rises. The NAIA's Champions of Character program also helps participants find a healthy physical and mental balance by keeping five core values of integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship and servant leadership at the heart of one's athletics experience.
Through this program, students understand how the values play out in both practice and competition; coaches are taught how to intentionally define, model, shape and reinforce those values through coaching and mentoring; parents learn how their behavior is key to supporting all athletes.
For more than a decade, Champions of Character® developed athletes, coaches and parents of character, which is why the NAIA will continue its commitment towards advancing character-driven athletics.
Click here for additional information regarding the NAIA's Champions of Character® program.
Cal Maritime Athletics — Previous Champions of Character Results
2024-25: Gold Award (Perfect Score)
2023-24: Gold Award (Perfect Score)
2022-23: Gold Award (Perfect Score)
2021-22: Gold Award (Perfect Score)
2020-21: Gold Award (Perfect Score)
2019-20: Silver Award
2018-19: Gold Award
2017-18: Gold Award (Perfect Score)
2016-17: Gold Award
2015-16: Gold Award
2014-15: Silver Award
2013-14: Silver Award
2012-13: Gold Award
2011-12: Bronze Award
2010-11: Bronze Award
2009-10: Bronze Award