KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Bethel College Athletics continues to set the standard for excellence on and off the field, earning recognition as an NAIA Champions of Character® Five-Star Institution for the 2025-26 academic year. The honor marks the ninth consecutive year the Threshers have received the prestigious distinction, reinforcing the department's commitment to developing student-athletes who excel in competition, the classroom and their communities.

The NAIA Champions of Character® program recognizes member institutions that intentionally model and promote the association's five core values: integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship and servant leadership. Schools are evaluated annually through the Champions of Character Scorecard, which measures performance in character training, academic focus, character recognition, character promotion and conduct in competition. Institutions also receive credit for strong student-athlete academic performance and maintaining high standards of sportsmanship throughout the year.

Bethel was one of 203 NAIA institutions to earn Five-Star status during the 2025-26 academic year, continuing a tradition that has become synonymous with Thresher Athletics.

"I am extremely proud of our student-athletes, coaches and everyone at Bethel College who has been instrumental in achieving this benchmark," Director of Athletics Tim Swartzendruber said. "We are proud to represent the five core values of the NAIA: integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship and servant leadership. I don't take this lightly, as each year brings new challenges and opportunities, which makes achieving this recognition special."

The Champions of Character initiative emphasizes the development of the complete student-athlete by encouraging leadership, academic achievement, community engagement and ethical decision-making. The annual recognition reflects an institution-wide commitment to building a culture where character is valued as highly as competitive success.

As Bethel Athletics celebrates its ninth consecutive Five-Star Institution designation, the Threshers remain committed to fostering an environment where student-athletes compete with integrity, serve others with purpose and represent Bethel College with pride both on and off the playing surface.