The NAIA Champions of Character program aims to instill five core values in NAIA athletes, coaches, and parents: respect, responsibility, integrity, servant leadership, and sportsmanship. These values parallel Stritch's Franciscan values which are integrated throughout the curriculum. As a program center for the Champions of Character program, Stritch works with students, coaches, and parents in the greater Milwaukee community to promote these same five core values through workshops and classes.
For more information on the Champions of Character program, click on the logo below:
- One Athlete of Character impacts a team
- One Team of Character impacts a school
- One School of Character impacts a community
To have a positive impact in our Stritch community and our local community.
Cardinal Stritch University Champions of Character initiative, along with the NAIA, will create an environment in which every student-athlete, coach, official, and spectator is committed to the true spirit of competition through respect, integrity, responsibility, servant leadership, and sportsmanship.
- To teach and instill character skills with our students, coaches, and staff members
- To promote the five core values of respect, responsibility, integrity, servant leadership, and sportsmanship
- To build relationships with local youth leagues, middle schools, and high schools
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| Stritch students playing basketball with the Our Next Generation Homework Club kids. |
Educational and corporate partnerships are key components to Our Next Generation’s foundation as they provide insightful and committed individuals working together to help ensure academic and personal success for the hundreds of children and youth served each year.
In one such partnership, Our Next Generation teamed up with athletes and sports marketing students from Cardinal Stritch University to bolster the academic and sports recreation aspects of the Homework Club.
This spring, Stritch athletes will tutor students as well as provide leadership to implement the recreation activities prior to tutoring time. In addition, next fall the student-athletes will host workshops and clinics to emphasize and teach Our Next Generation students the values associated with being a “character” in and through sport – all part of Stritch’s “Champions of Character” program, sponsored by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.
This program and its core values of respect, responsibility, integrity and sportsmanship compliment the Our Next Generation’s behavior model and teachings. Michael Zolecki, head baseball coach and the Champions of Character administrator at Stritch welcomes this partnership and feels, “our athletes are blessed to give back and get involved in the community. It’s a great opportunity to apply the Champions of Character program and share its message with children who are committed to their own personal achievement.”
In addition, sports marketing students, as part of a class project with direction from Stritch faculty member Joey-Lynn Bialkowski, will design two outreach presentations to help increase awareness and the benefits of the Our Next Generation program.
All partners are thankful for the opportunity to work together and are hopeful this relationship will become a model of excellence for the entire Stritch community. For more information on the Champions of Character program, please visit
www.ongkids.org.