ALISO VIEJO, Calif. — The Great Southwest Athletic Conference (GSAC) has once again been recognized as one of the NAIA's premier conferences for character and sportsmanship, earning the 2025-26 NAIA Champions of Character® Five-Star Conference Award. The honor marks the 15th consecutive year the GSAC has received the prestigious distinction.
The GSAC was among the NAIA conferences recognized with the 2025-26 Champions of Character® Five-Star Conference Award, presented annually to conferences that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to the NAIA's Champions of Character initiative. To earn the recognition, conferences must maintain an established Champions of Character Committee, operate a conduct in competition oversight committee composed of at least three members, and have at least 60 percent of their member institutions receive the NAIA Champions of Character Five-Star Institution Award.
A total of 203 NAIA member institutions were recognized as Champions of Character® Five-Star Institutions during the 2025-26 academic year. Institutions are measured on a demonstrated commitment to Champions of Character and earn points in five key areas: character training, conduct in competition, academic focus, character recognition and character promotion. Additional points are awarded based on exceptional student-athlete grade point averages and maintaining minimal to no ejections during athletic competition throughout the academic year. Institutions earning 60 or more points are recognized as Five-Star Champions of Character Institutions.
The GSAC continued its tradition of excellence with eight member institutions earning Gold Five-Star recognition, while The Master's University received Silver Five-Star recognition.
Even more impressively, seven GSAC institutions recorded a perfect score of 100 points, tying the conference for one of the nation's strongest showings in the annual evaluation.
The GSAC's 2025-26 Champions of Character® Five-Star Institution honorees include:
Gold (Perfect 100-Point Score)
- Arizona Christian University
- Benedictine University Mesa
- Hope International University
- La Sierra University
- Ottawa University Arizona
- Park University Gilbert
- Soka University of America
Gold
- Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Silver
The NAIA's Champions of Character® program is designed to instill the values of integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship and servant leadership throughout collegiate athletics while emphasizing the development of student-athletes both on and off the field of play.
With 15 consecutive Five-Star Conference Awards and nine member institutions recognized as Five-Star Institutions in 2025-26, the GSAC continues to demonstrate its commitment to building a culture where competitive excellence and character development go hand in hand.