Concordia Named Gold Level Five-Star Institution by NAIA
by Jacy Johnston
On September 14, the NAIA named Concordia Nebraska a Gold level five-star institution. The NAIA uses their Champions of Character Program each year the NAIA evaluates Universities on five areas: growth in training, promotion, conduct in competition and commitment in five key areas. To achieve gold status, a school most earn 90-100 points out of 100 available points.
“Concordia’s Five-star recognition is really a representation of its culture,” alum Lucas Wiechman said. “After spending four years here, it’s easy to see how Concordia’s culture cultivates success and helps students become well-rounded young adults.”
Wiechman was named a 2017-2018 CoSIDA Academic All-Americanee for the 2017-2018 school year. Wiechman won two individual national championships his senior year for Concordia Track & Field, and was a part of Concordia’s first National Team Title in 2015.
“As a student-athlete, you’re always taught the importance of effort and teamwork,” Weichman said, “Here at Concordia, we’ve combined that with a faith in Christ, have built up a high standard. Concordia students expect to produce excellence in and out of the classroom. ”
The NAIA Champions of Character program has been in place since 2000 and focuses on the development of the student-athlete.
Concordia is one of the 66 NAIA Institutions to achieve gold status, among 249 member schools. Also representing the Great Plains Athletic Conference with gold status are Dakota Wesleyan University and Doane University. Dakota Wesleyan scored a perfect 100 to achieve gold status.
The Great Plains Athletic Conference was also honored as a Five-Star Conference, which is the highest recognition an Athletic Conference can achieve.
