For the 17th year in a row, Brenau University has been named a Champions of Character Five-Star institution by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. The Golden Tigers also achieved gold-level status.
Earlier this summer, swimmer Olga Bukowska was named the Appalachian Athletic Conference’s 2025-26 Colonel John Sullivan Female Student Athlete of Character.
The 203 institutions recognized as five-star award winners for the 2025-26 academic year earned points in character training recognition and promotion, and community service and team-building activities. Points were also given based on grade-point average and having minimal to no ejections during competition throughout the year.
Including Brenau, 14 member institutions of the AAC are on the list; 10 earned gold-level status. In addition, the AAC was named a Champions of Character Five-Star Conference. To be awarded as a five-star conference, at least 60% of the conference’s institutions must receive the NAIA Champions of Character Five-Star Institution Award.
“Earning NAIA Five-Star Gold Status for a 17th consecutive year is a powerful testament to the ongoing culture of excellence within the Ernest Ledford Grindle Athletics Department,” Mike Lochstampfor, vice president of Athletics, said. “Our student-athletes, coaches and staff continue to demonstrate an extraordinary commitment to the NAIA’s core values – integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship and servant leadership. Maintaining this level of recognition for nearly two decades requires a dedicated effort, – from character training and community engagement to competing with class and excelling in the classroom. We are incredibly proud of our Golden Tigers for consistently setting the benchmark for what it means to be true Champions of Character.”
According to the NAIA’s website, the mission of the Champions of Character program is “to provide training to instill the values that build character so students, coaches and parents know, do and value the right thing on and off the field.” The NAIA encourages student-athletes to display the core values on the field, court or track and in the classroom.
The Golden Tigers are consistently awarded for academics, dominance in their sport, and contributions to leadership, sportsmanship and community service. Brenau had a banner year academically, with nine teams and 52 student-athletes honored by the NAIA for achievement during the 2025-26 academic year. The swim team also was named to the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America Scholar All-America Team for the fall 2025 semester, and one swimmer was named NAIA Swimming All-American. Two softball players were also named NAIA Softball All-Americans.
During the year, Brenau’s competitive cheer team captured its third consecutive national championship. Additionally, two Golden Tigers qualified for the NAIA Women’s Swimming and Diving National Championships, one runner qualified for the NAIA Women’s Cross Country National Championship, and one athlete represented the Golden Tigers at the NAIA Women’s Indoor and Outdoor Track National Championships.
Members of Brenau’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee meet on a regular basis throughout the year to discuss Champions of Character and other topics related to the student-athlete experience.
