Cleary University Athletics Recognized as Five-Star Gold Institution

Kansas City, MO-- Cleary University was one of 210 NAIA institutions nationwide to be named a Champion of Character Five-Star Award winner, the NAIA announced on Tuesday.

Institutions are measured on a demonstrated commitment to Champions of Character and earn 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.

Cleary's efforts within the Champions of Character initiative allowed them to be named a Gold level recipient, the highest recognition a school can receive, and the Cougars were one of a select group to receive a perfect score of 100 points.  It is the second straight year Cleary has been recognized, after earning a Silver Award in 2024.

Cleary joins other member institutions in celebrating the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) for being named a 2024-25 Champions of Character Five-Star Conference, with nine WHAC schools earning recognition.

The full list of 2024-25 NAIA Champions of Character® Five-Star Award winners can be viewed here.