Champions of Character Year in Review: Trinity Christian College
Trinity Athletics had all of its teams take part in the NAIA's Champions of Character initiative. The teams did community service and character-building activities to not only become better as athletes, but as people.
During the 2019-20 academic year, the student-athletes at Trinity Christian College participated in various events and activities as part of the NAIA's Champions of Character initiative. Through this program, the NAIA looks to change the culture around sports by focusing on five key areas: integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship and leadership.
Various teams participated in community services events and personal training to help these student-athletes get closer to their goals. Here is what each team did this year to help their communities and better themselves through sport:
Women's Soccer:
- Volunteered at Feed My Starving Children
- Participated in Battle Tested
- Served the homeless population in Chicago, delivering items like socks and toiletries
- Earned the CCAC Champions of Character Award for their sport
Men's Soccer
- Participated in Battle Tested
Women's Volleyball:
- Volunteered at Feed My Starving Children
Men's and Women's Cross Country:
- Cleaned up the area around Lake Katherine
- Participated in the Christian Service Project at NCCAA Nationals
Men's and Women's Golf:
- Participated in the Christian Service Project at NCCAA Regionals, where the teams donated to the food drive happening during the event
Women's Basketball:
- Volunteered at Feed My Starving Children
- Participated in Battle Tested
Men's Basketball:
- Went to Southwest Chicago Christian School and spoke to students about basketball and being successful in the classroom
Men's Volleyball:
- Volunteered at the Palos Heights Kris Kringle Mart, helping with labor and cleaning needs
- Hosted the NCCAA Christian Service Project, where the men's volleyball team and the seven participating teams collected donations for the Clean Water Project
Baseball:
- Helped at Faith in Action, where they split wood so the organization could sell it and uses the profits for their outreach programs
Softball:
- Participated in Battle Tested
- Volunteered at the Ronald McDonald House with their program Meals from the Heart and donated over 40 pounds of pop tabs for their Pop Tabs Program, which provides extra revenue for the House
- Served as instructors at P3 Coaching, which was a clinic for young softball players
- Attended Night to Shine, where athletes volunteered at a prom night organized by Tim Tebow for people with special needs ages 14 and older
- Learned about self-defense and personal safety from T-USA