The University of South Carolina Beaufort Athletics Department has reason to celebrate.  They have been awarded the Champions of Character Five Star Award through the NAIA Scorecard.
Because USCB did not “Make the Grade” the previous year, student athletes worked especially hard to earn this prestigious award. And they will continue working even harder to increase their score.  “Our goal this year is to maintain our status of ‘Making the Grade’ and improve our score,” stated Athletic Director, Ty Rietkovich.  “It is my hope that every coach on staff is looking for ways to instill the 5 Core Values of the Champions of Character program into our student athletes.”
The Scorecard process is based on the NAIA’s flagship program Champions of Character, which emphasizes five core values: integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship and servant leadership. To learn more about the NAIA Champions of Character Scorecard and Five Star Award visit www.ChampionsofCharacter.org.
“The scorecard supports and recognizes member institutions and conferences using sport as a vehicle to teach life lessons. No doubt this is a point of differentiation in college athletics and making a huge impact on our 60,000 student-athletes” said Kristin Gillette, NAIA Director of Champions of Character.
Institutions were measured based on a demonstrated commitment to Champions of Character and earned points in each of the following categories: character training, conduct in competition, academic focus, character recognition, and character promotion. Institutions earned points based on exceptional student-athlete grade point averages and by obtaining zero ejections during competition throughout the course of the academic year.
“Making a difference for our athletes both on and off the field is something that we should all take great pride in” said Rietkovich.  To his staff, Rietkovich stated “I am proud to be associated with each of you on a daily basis and proud of the example you set for all our student – athletes to follow.”