March 21, 2008

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) is pleased to announce the 2008 Champions of Character High School Award Winners. The awards are presented to Kansas City Metro area high school student-athletes who exemplify the Champions of Character traits both on and off the field or court. This year's selections were chosen from a list of nominees who displayed the following five core character values: respect, responsibility, integrity, servant leadership and sportsmanship.  

 

The 6th annual presentation will take place on Monday evening, March 24, 2008 during half-time of the 8:45 pm (CST) Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I Men's Basketball Championships, currently underway in Kansas City at historic Municipal Auditorium. Over the years, the awards ceremony has become a highlight of the championships and is one of many Champions of Character activities that take place each year.    

 

John Kornitzer, Buffalo Funds President, tournament sponsor and founding partner of the Champions of Character program, is happy to see the leadership characteristic continue to develop in today's youth

 

"To me when a young individual achieves the Champions of Character award it means that the person has become an outstanding young adult," Kornitzer said. "These award winners are the future leaders of America and the ones corporations will look for to hire in the future. I have faith that these young men and women will achieve success at whatever they try to do because they have learned the right principles to guide them through."

 

The Champions of Character program is designed to instill an understanding of character values in sport and provide practical tools for student-athletes, coaches and parents to use in modeling exemplary character traits. The program addresses character issues more comprehensively than any other national program for youth. Coaches, parents, administrators and community partners all have a role in developing students of character. The NAIA Champions of Character program brings participants training, guidelines and behavior models to create positive environments that promote personal growth and fun sport activity.

 

To learn more about the Champions of Character program visit www.championsofcharacter.org. Fans can follow the 2008 Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I Men's Basketball National Championship at www.naia.org. To learn more about tournament special events, tickets and game times visit www.naiahoops.com.

 

Alice McMillan, Grandview High School

Arsenio Valentin, Grandview High School

Austin Hamm, Spring Hill High School

Bailey Addison, St. Mary's High School

Chesney Burgweger, De Soto High School

Christian M. Duke, Shawnee Mission South High School

Colton Smith, Kearney High School

Cory Gutovitz, Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy

Danielle Bell, Blue Springs South High School

Darren Tidd, Olathe North High School

Derek Lederer, Metro Academy

Deron Binkley, Holden High School

Don Martin, Oak Park High School

Elana Goldberg, Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy

Elizabeth Baska, Tonganoxie High School

Emily Basham, Shawnee Mission North High School

Eric Reyes, St. Mary's High School

Erica Brand, Shawnee Mission Northwest High School

Ernie Rodriguez, St. James Academy

Gerald Edward Revenaugh, Winnetonka High School

Haley Downing, Olathe North High School

Hilary Horvatic, Leavenworth High School

Jackie Discher, North Kansas City High School

Jacob Couse, Smithville High School

Jacob Darby, Olathe East High School

Jon Ekey, William Chrisman High School

Kory Lower, Blue Springs South High School

Kyla Sommers, Oak Park High School

Lindsay Horton, Smithville High School

Lizzy Simonin, Lee's Summit High School

Mallory Lane, Metro Academy

Michael McClanahan, North Kansas City High School

Nia Williams, St. James Academy

Nico Yoch, Shawnee Mission North High School

Paige Gibson, Olathe East High School

Rachael Griffey, Winnetonka High School

Shelby Roberson, Truman High School

Stephanie Lankford, St. Teresa's Academy

Taylor Browning, Olathe South High School

Travis Croom, Turner High School

Travis Crow, De Soto High School

Tyler Keel, Lee's Summit High School

Tyler Martin, Truman High School

Valerie Lambert, Holden High School

Will Greenhaw, Shawnee Mission Northwest High School

William LaVon Bowles, Harmon High School

Zach Kowalewski, Leavenworth High School

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.