General | 09/15/20 | 12:29 PM

HELENA, Mont. -- Carroll College earned the distinction of a NAIA FIve-Star Champions of Character institution during the 2019-20 seasons.

Carroll received a Gold-level, perfect-100 score. It's the highest mark an institution can earn according to the NAIA's criterion. It also served as the highest mark of any Frontier Conference member. The Fighting Saints were one of 68 schools in the NAIA to score 100 on the scale.

"This award demonstrates the commitment our coaches have in creating a value based environment for our student athletes," Fighting Saints Athletic Director Charlie Gross said. "In addition, being recognized as an NAIA Five Star Athletic Department reflects the quality of our student-athletes who make up our Fighting Saints community and their willingness to embrace being Champions of Character in all that they do."

Institutions are measured on a demonstrated commitment to Champions of Character and earned points in 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 having minimal to no ejections during competition throughout the course of the academic year.

The Fighting Saints have pledged to be Champions of Character by following the Five Core Values: by competing with Integrity, Respect, Responsibility and Sportsmanship and through Servant Leadership.