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National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Names Saint Xavier a 'Champions of Character' Institution

NAIA program creates environment committed to true spirit of competition

CHICAGO (Jan. 10, 2004) – The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has named Saint Xavier University a Champions of Character Institution. Saint Xavier was one of an exclusive group of 193 colleges and universities nationwide to receive this distinction for the 2002-03 academic year.

The NAIA Champions of Character program was founded in 2000 with a goal to create an environment in which every student-athlete, coach, official and spectator is committed to the true spirit of competition through five tenets: respect, integrity, responsibility, servant leadership and sportsmanship. To be considered as a Champions of Character institution, a college or university has to implement at least one aspect of each of the five character values, through activities such as conducting community outreach projects, reporting student-athlete graduation rates and delivering neutral and information-based announcements at athletic competitions.

“Saint Xavier is honored to receive this recognition from NAIA. Our athletics program strives to educate the mind, body and spirit of our students. We pride ourselves on shaping student-athletes who demonstrate leadership, integrity and strong character and who serve as role models for others,” said Saint Xavier President Judith A. Dwyer. “I extend my gratitude and congratulations to our coaches and to all Cougar Athletics teams for this achievement. Saint Xavier will continue its commitment to an athletics program that promotes success in the classroom and in the community, as well as on the field.”

Expressing his pride on the NAIA distinction, Saint Xavier Director of Athletics Bob Hallberg credited the award to University values that go beyond the statistics column of its athletes.

“The coaches and athletic staff at Saint Xavier University believe that sports are much more than just wins and losses,” Hallberg said. “We believe in the development of the student-athlete. It is very important that as educators, we prepare our players for life after college. The Champions of Character core values help instill personality traits that last a lifetime.”

Key to Saint Xavier’s mission are the ideals of its founding order, the Sisters of Mercy, whose values instilled in Saint Xavier a commitment to respect, justice, caring and hospitality to all. These core values help make possible Saint Xavier’s status as a Champions of Character institution, a distinction which the University has received for both 2001-02 and 2000-01 – the inaugural year for the Champions of Character program.

For more information on Cougar Athletics, visit the Saint Xavier Web site at www.sxu.edu/athletics or call 773-298-3000. More information on NAIA is at www.naia.org.