Original press release posted on simpsonredhawks.com.

REDDING, Calif. — For the second straight year, the Simpson University Athletics Department has earned the highest standard of the Five-Star Gold Medallion recognition as a Champions of Character institution for 2017-2018 academic year.

The NAIA released its list of 183 member institutions this week with Simpson University being named as one of the 74 Gold Medallion honorees. The California Pacific Conference was also recognized as a Five-Star conference member with all 12 members achieving either Gold or Silver medallions.

This is the third straight year the Red Hawks have received recognition in the NAIA’s signature program recognizing institutional efforts in character training, conduct in competition, academic focus, character recognition and character promotion. Simpson moved up from the Bronze level in 2015-2016 to Gold level in 2016-17 and maintained that standard in 2017-18.

“As a department, we set a goal to achieve a Gold Medallion two years ago. The fact that we have been able to replicate that standard indicates this is now the culture by which our department is measured in important life skills and service to others among other NAIA institutions,” said Tom Galbraith, director of athletics. “We are among the elite in that category now and that should make everyone associated with Red Hawk athletics very proud. From student-athletes, to coaches, to staff, to faculty, to administration, we truly are living out Simpson’s mission to use athletics opportunities to teach life lessons to our student-athletes both on and off the field of play.”

The NAIA’s Champions of Character program is over a decade old and continues to grow and impact people throughout the nation as the service-focused component of the national organization.

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Simpson University, established in 1921, is a Christian university offering undergraduate, graduate, and teaching credential programs. The university celebrated its 25th year in Redding and the completion of a Science and Nursing Center in 2014. Academic programs include ASPIRE, a degree-completion program geared toward working adults with both on-campus and online course offerings; the Betty M. Dean School of Nursing, A.W. Tozer Seminary, the School of Education, and the School of Graduate Professional Studies. For information about the university, or to arrange a campus visit, call 1-888-9-SIMPSON or visit simpsonu.edu.