Buffalo Funds Award Champions of Character Program Center Grants to Vanguard University (Calif.) and Cornerstone University (Mich.)

Centers advance character driven intercollegiate athletics

Posted on 08.27.07

Vanguard University | Buffalo Funds Program Center Grant

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) announced today that Buffalo Funds, in conjunction with its national sponsorship of Champions of Character, has awarded Vanguard University (Calif.) a grant to assist with its campus Champions of Character Program Center. 

“Vanguard University is grateful to Buffalo Funds for its commitment and support of character driven intercollegiate athletics,” said Vanguard Athletics Director Bob Wilson. “Buffalo Funds has been a true leader in the development of the initiative. Our institution, department, administration, coaching staff and student-athletes are honored to be selected for this grant.”

Vanguard, Buffalo Funds and the NAIA share the underlying philosophy of the Champions of Character program through the core values of respect, responsibility, integrity, sportsmanship and servant leadership. The foundation of the Champions of Character program on Vanguard’s campus is entitled Gold Pride. The fundamental premise for Gold Pride is striving to meet the university vision and mission: coming together is a beginning; working together is a progress; thinking together is success; and believing together is significance. The Lions athletic programs achieve significance when objectives are met and outcomes of success occur with the Champions of Character core values intact.

Vanguard uses the Champions of Character program as a vehicle to provide student-athletes with quality administrative direction, set expectations to pursue excellence academically and athletically while developing people of significance. The ability to be involved as a Champions of Character Program Center has allowed Vanguard University the opportunity to have a meaningful understanding of how the five core values can be modeled for its teams, institution and community.

The Buffalo Funds grant will assist Vanguard Program Center initiatives that include: an Ethics in America Community Summit, Champions of Character coaches clinic, Champions of Character newspaper in education program, Orange County book event, Champions of Character presentations at the ACSI Convention, a Champions of Character partnership with the National Junior Basketball league, Champions of Character youth camps, and character classes for all incoming Vanguard student-athletes.

The Lions, through various efforts, use the Champions of Character message and training models to build competitive teams that work towards a common goal. All agendas and efforts are in sync with the overall objective of character driven intercollegiate athletics. Success is achieved when teams embrace the initiative’s fundamentals and philosophy. Since the inception of Champions of Character, Vanguard University has produced over 100 scholar-athletes, improved in the Director’s Cup standings finishing 24th in 2006-07, and received numerous Buffalo Funds Five Star Awards.

“Vanguard University is a wonderful example of how character driven intercollegiate athletics works to build competitive and successful teams. The entire campus community embraces what Champions of Character stands for,” said NAIA Director of Champions of Character Initiatives Rob Miller. “Buffalo Funds is a tremendous partner that values what Vanguard and the NAIA represent and we thank John Kornitzer (Buffalo Funds President and Portfolio Manager) and his team for recognizing all the good things in college athletics.”

Cornerstone University | Buffalo Funds Program Center Grant

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) announced today that Buffalo Funds, in conjunction with its national sponsorship of Champions of Character, has awarded Cornerstone University (Mich.) a grant to assist with its campus Champions of Character Program Center.

“This grant is a reflection of John Kornitzer’s (Buffalo Funds President and Portfolio Manager) commitment to character driven intercollegiate athletics. The Champions of Character program has given our student-athletes, coaches and community the training and skill sets to build successful teams. The rewards surpass the sports realm and as an institution we recognize that,” said Cornerstone Champions of Character Director Mike Riemersma. “Cornerstone University is committed to intentionally teaching character and we are honored to be a recipient of this grant.”

At Cornerstone University and within the Golden Eagles athletics department excellence is not an option, it is an expectation. The faculty and staff work to create an environment in which every student-athlete, coach, official and spectator is committed to the true spirit of competition through respect, responsibility, integrity, servant leadership and sportsmanship.

Cornerstone puts into action a variety of methods to activate Champions of Character messages and training models on campus and throughout the community. One way for the Eagles to achieve this is by partnering with the YMCA, Ottawa-Kent (O-K) Conference, Michigan High School Athletic Association, West Michigan Whitecaps, Grand Rapids Griffins and Grand Rapids Rampage. Cornerstone alone provides character education to the O-K Conference reaching 44 Michigan high schools, over 10,000 student-athletes, coaches and parents each year.

The Program Center, housed inside the Bernice Hansen Athletic Center, is home to numerous character workshops, sports camps and presentations. Each year Riemersma identifies student-athletes to participate in the “Noble Eagles” program. The program pairs college athletes with youth organizations who then work together to teach area youth the Champions of Character core values. Each fall a Champions of Character Town Hall Meeting is conducted for more than 500 high school athletic directors, coaches, administrators, student-athletes and parents. The event includes a panel discussion with representatives from Cornerstone University, the NAIA and the Michigan High School Athletics Association.

“Champions of Character is embedded in the culture at Cornerstone University,” said NAIA Director of Champions of Character Initiatives Rob Miller. “The Buffalo Funds grant will work to further the program’s mission and impact in and out of the sports setting. With the foundation already set and character education in full swing this is a tremendous opportunity for Cornerstone to reach a larger audience.” 

To learn more about the NAIA click here.
To learn more about Champions of Character Program Centers click here.

To learn more about Buffalo Funds click here.
To learn more about Cornerstone University click here.
To learn more about Vanguard University click here.

-NAIA-

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) is the governing body for athletics programs at its nearly 300 colleges and universities throughout the United States and Canada. The long-held mission of the NAIA is to promote the education and development of well-rounded students and productive citizens through intercollegiate athletics. The association offers equitable access and opportunities for participation in its 23 national championship events held annually throughout the country.

Today, the NAIA strengthens its commitment to student-athletes and strives to enrich their college experience by supporting academic achievement and character development. NAIA Champions of Character is the association’s innovative flagship program designed to instill character values in student-athletes, coaches and youth in the communities it serves.

-Buffalo Funds-

Buffalo Funds is the Official Sponsor of the Champions of Character program. As part of the Buffalo Funds sponsored outreach the NAIA conducts training and motivational presentations to groups in communities throughout the country. Buffalo Funds is also the title sponsor of the NAIA Division I Men’s Basketball National Championships played at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo.