Grand Rapids, Mich. – Championships are celebrated.

Records are broken.

Banners are raised.

Those moments become part of an athletic department's history.

Character becomes part of its identity.

At Aquinas College, the pursuit has always been greater than championships.

The pursuit is people.

Long before the NAIA formally recognized Integrity, Respect, Responsibility, Sportsmanship and Servant Leadership as the Five Pillars of Champions of Character®, Aquinas had already built its athletic department—and its educational mission—upon those very same ideals. Rooted in the College's Dominican tradition, those values have shaped generations of Saints and continue to define the Aquinas experience today.

The NAIA didn't teach Aquinas these values.

The NAIA recognized Aquinas for living them.

That commitment was recognized once again as Aquinas College earned the 2025-26 NAIA Champions of Character® Five-Star Gold Award, receiving a perfect score of 100 points while continuing one of the NAIA's most remarkable traditions of character-driven excellence.

The recognition also highlighted the culture of the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference, which earned the 2025-26 NAIA Champions of Character® Five-Star Conference Award. Together, the honors underscore a shared commitment to developing student-athletes who compete with integrity, lead with humility and serve others beyond the playing field.

The honor also extends a streak that few institutions can match. Aquinas remains one of just 23 colleges and universities nationwide to have earned NAIA Champions of Character® Five-Star recognition every year since the award's inception in 2001-02. Since the Gold, Silver and Bronze designations were introduced in 2013-14, the Saints have earned Gold recognition in 11 of the past 13 years, including perfect 100-point scores in each of the past two academic years.

What AQ Leadership Has to Say

For Dr. Terry Keller, Provost & Vice President for Academic Affairs, the recognition reflects the very heart of the Aquinas mission.

"Earning the NAIA Champions of Character® Five-Star Award once again is a reflection of who we strive to be as an institution," Keller said. "At Aquinas College, excellence is measured not only by achievement in competition, but by the character, integrity and servant leadership our student-athletes demonstrate each day. This recognition affirms our commitment to developing graduates who lead with purpose, compassion and respect, embodying the Dominican values that define the Aquinas experience."

Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Damon Bouwkamp believes the award is the result of a culture intentionally cultivated by coaches, staff and student-athletes every day.

"Receiving the NAIA Champions of Character® Five-Star Award is an honor that reflects the culture our coaches, staff and student-athletes work hard to build every day," Bouwkamp said. "While we take pride in competing for championships, we believe the way we compete is just as important. This recognition speaks to the commitment our entire athletic department has made to developing leaders who demonstrate integrity, respect, responsibility, servant leadership and sportsmanship in everything they do."

That philosophy extends well beyond game day.

It can be found in classrooms, weight rooms, community service projects, residence halls, team meetings and countless moments that never appear on a scoreboard.

Deputy Director of Athletics Connor Leppink believes that's exactly why the award continues to hold such significance.

"At Aquinas, we absolutely want to compete for championships, but our ultimate goal is to develop outstanding people," Leppink said. "The NAIA's Champions of Character initiative aligns perfectly with who we are as an athletic department because it reminds us that success isn't measured solely by wins and losses. When our student-athletes embrace integrity, respect, responsibility, servant leadership and sportsmanship, they're preparing themselves to make a positive impact long after their athletic careers are over. That's the kind of legacy we're striving to build every day."

Excellence Beyond the Scoreboard

The commitment to developing the complete student-athlete extends well beyond athletics.

It is reflected just as clearly in the classroom.

Among the department's many academic accomplishments during the 2025-26 academic year, the Aquinas women's volleyball team earned the highest cumulative team GPA for the second consecutive year, continuing to demonstrate that excellence and character go hand in hand.

"I'm incredibly proud of what our student-athletes have accomplished in the classroom," said Head Women's Volleyball Coach Ryan Campbell. "To earn the highest cumulative team GPA for the second consecutive year is a testament to their commitment, discipline and willingness to pursue excellence in every area of their lives. They understand that being a student-athlete means embracing the challenge of excelling academically while competing at a high level, and they've continued to set that standard for our program."

Success at Aquinas has never been measured solely by championships won or trophies collected.

It is measured by the lives that are shaped.

The leaders who are developed.

The difference graduates make in their families, workplaces and communities.

That is what the Champions of Character® program celebrates.

More importantly...

That is what Aquinas has celebrated for generations.

Saints Snapshots

Perfect Score: Aquinas earned a perfect 100-point score to receive the 2025-26 NAIA Champions of Character® Five-Star Gold Award.

National Standard: One of only 23 NAIA institutions to earn Champions of Character® Five-Star recognition every year since 2001-02.

Conference Excellence: The Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference also earned the 2025-26 NAIA Champions of Character® Five-Star Conference Award.

Five Pillars: Integrity • Respect • Responsibility • Sportsmanship • Servant Leadership.

Academic Achievement: Women's Volleyball recorded the department's highest cumulative team GPA for the second consecutive year.

The Aquinas Way: Character isn't something the Saints adopted. It's who they've always been.

Up Next

As the calendar turns to the 2026-27 academic year, a new class of Saints will soon arrive on campus with dreams of conference championships, national tournament appearances and unforgettable moments.

Those goals matter.

But they will quickly learn there is an even greater expectation at Aquinas.

To compete with integrity.

To lead with humility.

To serve others.

To respect teammates, opponents and officials.

To leave the College better than they found it.

For more than two decades, the NAIA has recognized Aquinas as one of the nation's premier Champions of Character institutions.

Based on the culture that continues to thrive throughout the athletic department, there is every reason to believe that tradition—and another NAIA Champions of Character® Five-Star Gold Award—will continue well into the future.

Because championships are celebrated.

Character defines the Saints.

It's a great day to be a Saint.