Kansas City, Mo. - Bethel College has once again been recognized as a NAIA Champions of Character® Five-Star Institution, marking the eighth consecutive year the college has received this prestigious honor. The recognition, awarded to 210 member institutions for the 2024-25 academic year, highlights Bethel's ongoing commitment to excellence both on and off the field.

The NAIA's Champions of Character® program evaluates institutions on their dedication to five core values: integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship, and servant leadership. Schools earn points based on efforts in character training, conduct in competition, academic focus, character recognition, and character promotion. Bethel student-athletes' exceptional grade point averages and the teams' adherence to sportsmanship—evidenced by minimal to no ejections during competition—were significant factors in achieving this distinction.

Athletic Director Tim Swartzendruber expressed his pride in the entire Bethel athletics community:
"I am extremely proud of our student-athletes, coaches, and others at Bethel College who have been instrumental in achieving this benchmark. We are proud to represent the five core values of NAIA: integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship, and servant leadership. I don't take this lightly as each year brings new challenges and opportunities, which means achieving this recognition is special."

A Standard of Excellence

To qualify for the Five-Star Conference Award, conferences must maintain a conduct in competition oversight committee with at least three members, and at least 60% of member institutions must receive the Five-Star designation. Bethel's consistent recognition plays a vital role in helping the KCAC meet these standards.

With this honor, Bethel College reaffirms its standing as a leader in character-based athletics.