KANSAS CITY, Mo. – For the second straight academic year, Benedictine College Athletics has earned a perfect score of 100 points and has once again been named a 2024-25 Champions of Character Five-Star Award winner. Raven Athletics has earned a Gold Medallion – the program's highest honor – for the second year in a row.

"Champions of Character is one of five department outcomes as part of our Athletics Mission Statement at Benedictine College," said Benedictine Athletic Director Charlie Gartenmayer. "The five core values of the program fit perfectly with Benedictine's Characteristics of a Raven. The Gold Medallion honor is the direct result of the buy-in from our coaches, staff, and, more importantly, our student-athletes, to the program."

Benedictine is 1 of 121 member institutions to earn a perfect 100-point score and earn the Gold Medallion. The Heart of America Athletic Conference was also named a Five-Star Conference award winner, as 21 conferences earned the honor for the 2024-25 academic year.

The Heart was well represented among the award winners with 11 member schools, along with newcomer Missouri Baptist, earning Gold Medallions. Two additional member schools, along with newcomer William Woods, earned Silver Medallions, as every current full-time member of the conference was recognized by the NAIA.

A total of 210 member institutions were named Champions of Character Five-Star Award winners for the 2024-25 academic year, one more than earned the same honors for the 2023-24 academic year.

To learn more about the NAIA's Champions of Character program, visit https://www.naia.org/champions-of-character/index.

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