VALLEY CITY, N.D. (VCSUVikings.com)- Valley City State University has been named an NAIA Champions of Character Five-Star Institution for the 2017-18 academic year, the NAIA national office has announced. It is the 16th straight year that the VCSU athletic department has received the honor.

The NAIA Champions of Character program provides training for student-athletes and professional development for coaches and staff. It places an emphasis on providing character-driven athletics programs. The five core values of integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship and servant leadership are put into play and accounted for as part of the Champions of Character program at NAIA schools.

VCSU earned the honor at the “silver” level for the second straight year.

“Our student-athletes understand that character is a choice and that being a champion is about reaching potential and good decision-making daily,” said Jill DeVries, VCSU athletic director. “I’m proud of the way our student-athletes and coaches represent VCSU in and out of competition. We embrace the Five Core Values at VCSU and strive to mentor our student-athletes as they develop into leaders and engaged citizens in a complex and diverse society.”

Institutions are measured on a demonstrated commitment to the Champions of Character program and earn points in character training, conduct in competition, academic focus, character recognition and character promotion. Institutions also earn points based on exceptional student-athlete grade point averages and by having minimal to no ejections during competition throughout the course of the academic year.

For 2017-18, 171 NAIA institutions earned the Five-Star Institution Award which included 74 gold level winners, 62 silver level winners, and 35 bronze level winners.