Champions of Character

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics' Champions of Character provides training to ensure student-athletes know, do and value the right things in all areas of life. The five core values: integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship and servant leadership are put into play, accounted for and tracked at all NAIA schools.

Click here to learn more about the NAIA Champions of Character program

As an NAIA institution, Waldorf University has developed a Champions of Character campus program that includes:

Ongoing character education for all student-athletes using the Champions of Character Live 5 orientation program.
Professional development for coaches, athletics administrative staff including completion of the Character-Driven Coaching course.
Emphasis on hospitality and game management of athletics events and conduct in competition
Servant leadership activities that promote student leadership and athletic community engagement
Ongoing oversight and assessment of progress in the program's implementation by both Graceland University and the NAIA.

Waldorf's 2020-21 Champions of Character

Waldorf's 2020-21 Champions of Character

Baseball
Men’s Basketball Chett Helming
Women’s Basketball Tina Lair-VanMeter
Men’s Bowling Tyler Harlow
Women’s Bowling Marissa Gates
Cheerleading Marriah Dunning and Audrey Skjeie
Men’s Cross Country Kobi Sadler
Women’s Cross Country Naomi Alvarez
Football Thomas Edwards
Men’s Golf Benjamin Boerjan
Women’s Golf Nadia Turner
Ice Hockey Darrin Bruce
Men’s Indoor Track & Field Chase Bennett
Women’s Indoor Track & Field Marcey Wilkinson
Men’s Outdoor Track & Field
Women’s Outdoor Track & Field
Men’s Soccer Henrique Vieira
Women’s Soccer Araneg Leon Velazquez
Softball
Volleyball Abygail Wood
Men’s Wrestling Arie Reyes
Women’s Wrestling Akina Yamada

Waldorf's 2019-20 Champions of Character

Baseball Tarquin Daley
Men’s Basketball Brady Kuchinka
Women’s Basketball Morgan Straight
Men’s Bowling Dylan Vander Loop
Women’s Bowling Olivia Kubis
Cheerleading Maddison Zellmer
Men’s Cross Country Andrew Murley
Women’s Cross Country Marissa Widener
Football Marcel Lindner
Men’s Golf Aaron Fleming
Women’s Golf Cassidy Blair
Ice Hockey Tristan Klewsaat
Men’s Indoor Track & Field Amar Thomas
Women’s Indoor Track & Field Kaila Jackson
Men’s Outdoor Track & Field Wade Baker
Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Naomi Alvarez
Men’s Soccer Jordan Hardy
Women’s Soccer Emma Donnelly
Softball Katie Chapman
Volleyball Savanna Cordle
Men’s Wrestling Robert Ornelas
Women’s Wrestling Diana Dzasezeva

Waldorf's 2018-19 Champions of Character

Baseball Colton Shipman
Men’s Basketball Shay Motter
Women’s Basketball Kayley Cravens
Men’s Bowling Tyler Harlow
Women’s Bowling Olivia Kubis
Cheerleading Kirsten DeVary
Men’s Cross Country Kobi Sadler
Women’s Cross Country Teaganne Versluis
Football Moises Jauregui
Men’s Golf Joe Nordquist
Women’s Golf Haleigh Biernacki
Ice Hockey Braedan Pearce
Men’s Indoor Track & Field Justin Jacobi
Women’s Indoor Track & Field Taylor Navratil
Men’s Outdoor Track & Field Josh Sauren
Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Marissa Kuik
Men’s Soccer Edwin Lopez & Bruno Barbosa
Women’s Soccer Cassidy Pino
Softball Kayley Camerer
Volleyball Savanna Cordle
Men’s Wrestling Robert Ornelas
Women’s Wrestling Alaura Couch

Waldorf University is an approved Program Center for the NAIA's Champions of Character initiative, and in the 2017-18 academic year was named a Silver Medalist 5-Star Champions of Character institution by the NAIA.