Dec. 10, 2008

For immediate release
Contact: Staci Schottman, NAIA Director of Public Relations & Communications, 816-595-8116

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – At the conclusion of the 25th annual women’s and 50th annual men’s soccer national championship events the NAIA and Brine announced forward Natalie Buikema of Trinity Christian (Ill.) College and defender Jacob Child of Notre Dame (Ohio) College recipients of the Brine Method Champions of Character scholarships. Brine Method is designed to help athletes discover, promote and achieve greatness while developing skills and character values on and off the field.

“The Brine Method Champions of Character scholarship is a fantastic opportunity for the NAIA and Brine to reward and recognize character-driven intercollegiate athletics. Natalie and Jacob are wonderful representatives of the 45,000 student-athletes that compete under the NAIA banner and I applaud their success both on and off the playing field,” said NAIA President and CEO Jim Carr. “The NAIA uses the Champions of Character program and the power of sport to teach lessons for life. I would like to thank Brine for its sponsorship and commitment to advance character-driven intercollegiate athletics.”

This is the third year for the NAIA and Brine to award scholarships and recognize one female and one male student-athlete that best exemplify the Champions of Character and Brine Method ideal throughout the NAIA soccer national championship tournaments. The NAIA on behalf of Brine will contribute a $1,000 scholarship to the institutions represented by the two award winners. Buikema and Child were selected by the tournament committees at each national championship event.

Buikema, co-captain, led the Trinity Christian Trolls to the team’s first national championship appearance and a 23-2 record, the best in the program’s history.  Buikema and Trinity Christian recorded the team’s second loss on the season to No. 3 seed and national champions Lee (Tenn.) University in semifinal action. Buikema is a senior and will graduate with a degree in nursing. Off the field Buikema is involved with mission trips to Mexico and Costa Rica and has been named to the Athletics Department High Honor Roll. She has received Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) All-Conference, NAIA All-Region and NAIA Scholar-Athlete honors. Buikema ended the season with six goals and five assists and was named the Champions of Character award winner for the Trinity Christian women’s soccer program.

Joining Buikema is Jacob Child a sophomore from Woking, England. The Notre Dame men’s soccer program made its second national championship appearance in school history and ended the season in the number two spot in the national poll, a school best. Child and the Falcons finished the year with a program-record 19 wins, two losses and one tie. Child, a business major, was also named the Champions of Character award winner for the Falcons men’s soccer program.

Brine Method Champions of Character scholarships are part of Brine’s total commitment to the NAIA. Brine serves as the “Official Soccer Ball of the NAIA” and sponsors the NAIA Men’s and Women’s Coach and Player of the Year awards.

To learn more about the NAIA visit www.naia.org. For additional information on Brine visit www.brine.come.

-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.

-BRINE-
Brine, established in 1922, believes that inside every player is a better player. Brine’s motto “Find Your Game”, speaks to their almost century long support of players in their athletic pursuit of game improvement products and programs. Innovators of the OffsetTM lacrosse stick and the original round bladder soccer ball (official ball of the NAIA). Acquired by New Balance Athletic Shoe, Inc. in August, 2006, Brine is a recognized industry leader in lacrosse, soccer, field hockey and volleyball. Headquartered in Milford, Massachusetts, Brine asks you to Find Your GameTM at Brine.com.