2020 Champions of Character® Awards & Virtual Fundraiser

CHAMPIONS OF CHARACTER® AWARDS & VIRTUAL FUNDRAISER

Helping us develop community leaders through sport

JUNE 24 2020

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., is a governing body of small athletics programs that are dedicated to character-driven intercollegiate athletics. Since 1937, the NAIA has administered programs dedicated to championships in balance with the overall college educational experience. Each year more than 77,000 NAIA student-athletes have the opportunity to play college sports, earn over $800 million in scholarships, and compete for a chance to participate in 27 national championships.

The seed of the NAIA began 80 years ago with the tipoff of a men’s basketball tournament in Kansas City that has become the longest running basketball tournament in college athletics. Out of the tournament grew the NAIA, an association that has been an innovative leader. The NAIA was the first collegiate athletics association to invite historically black institutions into membership and the first to sponsor both men’s and women’s national championships.

In 2000, the NAIA reaffirmed its purpose to enhance the character-building aspects of sport. Through Champions of Character®, the NAIA seeks to create an environment in which every student-athlete, coach, official and spectator is committed to the true spirit of competition through five core values.

NAIA Champions of Character Foundation • 120 W. 12th Street, Suite 700, Kansas City, Mo. 64105 • naia.org/cocluncheon 2

77,000 STUDENTATHLETES p

250 COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES p

$800MM IN SCHOLARSHIPS p

21 CONFERENCES p

27 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

OUR SPONSORS LEAD SPONSORS

AWARD SPONSORS

MODEL SPONSORS

INSPIRE SPONSORS Benedictine College, Culver-Stockton College, Dimensional Innovations, Kansas City Life Insurance, Marks Nelson CPA, Michael and Marlys Haverty Family Foundation, MidAmerica Nazarene University, Ottawa University, Peter Levy, Pure Workplace Solutions

TABLE SPONSORS Monarch Build, Straub Construction, Gary Henson, USTA Missouri Valley, Donna Pacicca, McCownGordon, Landmark Bank, Service Mark, Nutanix, Henderson Engineers, Commerce Bank 3

LEN JENNINGS

SPORTS DIRECTOR, KMBC CHANNEL 9 EMCEE

CHAMPIONS OF CHARACTER® 2019-20 FOUNDATION BOARD MEMBERS Jim Carr, NAIA President and CEO Gary Henson, President, Tortoise Investments Peter Levy, President/CEO, Weather Metrics Mark Hassenflu Donna Pacicca, M.D. Orthopadeic Surgery, Children’s Mercy Hospital Jeff Simon, Partner, Husch Blackwell

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A SPECIAL THANK YOU

Mark Fitzpatrick Kyle Myers, PNC Financial Services Courtney Kounkel, Monarch Build Nicole Fillingame, Children’s Mercy Hospital Collegiate Awards

THE LINE-UP Welcome & Thank You to our Sponsors Len Jennings, KMBC 9 Welcome & Thank You to our Sponsors Jim Carr, NAIA President and CEO Champions of Character High School Recognition Len Jennings Presentation of Awards Len Jennings BOK Financial Company of Character Award Veracity Consulting Husch Blackwell Team of Character Award Pleasant Hill Chicks Softball Team Kissick Construction Coach of Character Award Andy Gibbs, Shawnee Mission East High School

Sports Medicine Center at Children’s Mercy High School Student-Athlete of Character Award Isaac Riggs, Midway R-1 PNC Bank Collegiate Student-Athlete of Character Award Dimitri Ingrassia, Judson University, Illinois Champions of Character Learn how your support helps fund the NAIA’s programs Introduction of Character Honoree Jim Carr Character Keynote Honoree Q&A Session Bill Snyder, former Kansas State University head football coach Stan Weber, Color Analyst - K-State radio network Closing Remarks Len Jennings

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COMPANY OF CHARACTER AWARD

VERACITY CONSULTING Veracity, a Kansas City based technology consulting firm, is the 2020 Company of Character Award Winner. The company seeks to bridge the gap between business and technology while always staying transparent, being authentic and living the mantra of “simply do the right thing.”

Angela Hurt, CEO, oversees the strategic direction of the Kansas City-headquartered company, a tech consulting team of trusted advisors’ clients lean on to deliver relevant and unique solutions to meet their business challenges. Under Angela’s leadership, the company also places a high value on giving back to the community and intentionally fosters a culture of giving. Leading by example, Angela has implemented a profit-sharing program that connects employee contributions to the growth of the company, while externally she invests a portion of profits each year to community programs.

Veracity was honored as the Woman-Owned Business of the Year for Professional Services by the State of Kansas in 2013, a Top 10 Small Business of the Year in 2016 and 2018, as the Diverse Small Business of the Year by the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce in 2018 and a Champions of Business recipient in 2016 and 2018 by the Kansas City Business Journal. In 2019, Veracity made the Inc. 5,000 list.

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TEAM OF CHARACTER AWARD WINNER

PLEASANT HILL CHICKS SOFTBALL The Pleasant Hill Chicks Softball team is the 2020 Team of Character Award Winner. The Chicks, led by head coach Christy Reeves, put the association’s core values of Integrity, Respect, Responsibility, Sportsmanship and Servant Leadership into action in a number of ways during the 2019-2020 academic year.

The Chicks Softball Program embraced the idea that their impact is beyond the playing field. The team ended their first week of practice by dedicating a day to complete over 300 random acts of kindness within the Pleasant Hill Community. Players helped carry groceries, bought drinks and snacks for those working around town, handed out flowers and left kind notes all around town. This day led players to think of additional ways to better the community throughout the rest of the year.

The Chicks surprised another local softball team by collecting band-aids for their cancer drive and then went even further by challenging other teams to do the same; they added hundreds of boxes of bandaids to support their cause. Players organized a blood drive and donated blood and supported other programs within the district by running/walking their 5K together as a team.

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COACH OF CHARACTER AWARD WINNER

ANDY GIBBS

Shawnee Mission East High School Men’s and Women’s Tennis Coach Andy Gibbs, the head girls and boys tennis coach at Shawnee Mission East High School, is the 2020 Coach of Character Award Winner.

Andy is completing his fourth year at Shawnee Mission East and has led the Lancers to two state championships, four state runner-up finishes, five regional championships, seven conference tournament championships, and 39 (of a possible 42) state tournament qualifiers.

Prior to coming to Shawnee Mission East, Andy was the head men’s and women’s tennis coach at Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Ill., for two seasons. His teams qualified for three NAIA national tournaments, won 3 CCAC tournament and regular season championships, and all four teams were named NAIA Scholar teams. Additionally, his teams partnered with Steuben Elementary School, a bilingual Elementary school, in Kankakee, Ill., to present the NAIA’s Champions of Character program to students in both Spanish and English over a series of five visits.

Even more important than winning championships and individual awards, Andy believes that all students should have the opportunity to experience the many benefits of being part of an athletic program. He is a USTA No-Cut High School Coach and is committed to providing opportunities for all players who are interested to be part of the Shawnee Mission East program.

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HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT-ATHLETE OF CHARACTER AWARD WINNER

ISAAC RIGGS Midway R-1

Isaac “Ike� Riggs from Midway R-1 is the 2020 High School Student-Athlete of Character Award Winner. Isaac has been a varsity football player for four years and was named as one of the captains and MVP his senior year. In addition, Isaac has received several other football honors. Of these awards, his most notable are Conference Defensive Player of the Year 2019 and All State 2nd Team Linebacker for two consecutive years in 2018 and 2019. Isaac has been involved in basketball and track as well. Isaac qualified for State track as a junior in shot put. Due to Covid-19, he did not get the opportunity to compete and possibly return as a senior.

Among activities other than sports, Isaac was also busy in many student activity groups at Midway. Isaac is a member of the National Honor Society and participated in several roadway clean ups. Isaac also was active in student government and helped with little league by officiating basketball as well as Junior High B games.

Isaac has been a good role model for younger students and has always been willing to engage and speak with younger students.

Isaac has stayed busy with school and has maintained a busy schedule outside of the school day. He is respected by faculty and student body. Isaac attributes his education, self-discipline and work ethics to his family and all of his teachers and staff at Midway which has been a part of his life from kindergarten to senior year.

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COLLEGIATE STUDENT-ATHLETE OF CHARACTER AWARD WINNER

DIMITRI INGRASSIA Judson University, Illinois

Dimitri Ingrassi from Judson University is the 2020 Collegiate Student-Athlete of Character Award Winner. Dimitri came to Judson University from Paul Cezanne high School in Aix-En Provence, France. During his tenure at Judson University, Dimitri has earned the Chicagoland Conference Athletic Association Player of the Week, National Christian Collegiate Athletic Association Student Athlete of the Week and was part of the 2019 Men’s Tennis Team who was awarded the 2019 ITA Community Service Award.

During the ITA Regional Tennis Tournament, Dimitri had an instance that integrity was shown at the highest level in competition.

He was in a very close doubles match with his doubles partner during the second round of the ITA tournament. A victory in this match would have propelled them into the finals of the ITA regional tournament. As they were up and down in this highly contested match, a turning point in the match was at a point when a ball went flying by him and he could have easily said that the ball landed outside the court lines. You could tell that his opponents were not sure as we all assumed the ball landed out. He spoke up and said the ball landed within the line, so they lost the point and lost that game that was at deuce with no add. This call could have easily been called out as a majority of college players and coaches would agree, but he did what was right and showed the utmost of integrity in his game.

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KEYNOTE CHARACTER HONOREE

BILL SNYDER

Former Head Football Coach, Kansas State University The winningest coach in the history of K-State football with a 215117-1 record, Bill Snyder left K-State as the 20th winningest coach in Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) history and currently ranks second among active FBS coaches in wins. Under Snyder, K-State was the third-winningest program in the Big 12 with 104 total league wins since the league was formed in 1996.

Over the past 10 years under Snyder, K-State has totaled 79 victories, advanced to eight bowl games, won a conference championship in 2012 and finished third or better in the ultracompetitive Big 12 Conference in four of the last seven seasons.

Snyder went on to win the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award as well as top Big 12 coach honors for the second straight season following the Cats’ memorable 2012 season that culminated with a berth in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl and quarterback Collin Klein being named a finalist for the Heisman Trophy.

In all, Snyder led K-State to 19 of the school’s 21 all-time bowl appearances, won two conference titles, achieved two No. 1 national rankings, coached players who received a total of 214 All-America honors, 13 Academic All-Americans, was a five-time national coach of the year and seven-time conference coach of the year and also became just the fourth active coach to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame (2015).

In addition to the team accomplishments, Snyder’s players were also some of the most decorated in the country. In his first 16 years, he produced three national award winners, 45 All-America selections and 68 first team all-conference honorees.

Snyder’s impact at K-State reached far beyond the football field.

In addition to rekindling an overwhelming sense of pride in K-State alumni and supporters from coast to coast, the winning culture he ushered in helped spark a University and community-wide revitalization as K-State’s enrollment blossomed from 18,120 when he was hired to a record of more than 24,000.

The rebuilding effort and subsequent success engineered at Kansas State by Snyder clearly stands as one of the most amazing in all of college football.

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Student-Athlete Health and Wellness The health, safety and well-being of our student-athletes is the NAIA’s top priority.

In support of this priority, we strive to protect and enhance the well-being of our student-athletes. This vision is holistic and can be explained by understanding the interconnectedness between the mind, body, and character.

Mind

Mental Health and well-being are intricately linked to athletic performance and healthy function for student-athletes like me.

Mental health issues are at the forefront of the NAIA’s commitment to student-athlete health and safety.

Body

A healthy body is a key component of what it means to be a studentathlete in the NAIA.

Student-Athletes

Character Character is at the core of what it means to be a student-athlete in the NAIA. Through the NAIA’s Champions of Character® program, servant leadership, the Academy, and personal and professional development.

DONATE today by texting NAIA to 56651 or go to naia.org/cocfoundation INTEGRITY

RESPECT

RESPONSIBILITY

SPORTSMANSHIP 12

SERVANT LEADERSHIP

CONGRATULATIONS

High School Student-Athlete of Character Award Nominees Mikaela Aurand, Belton

Gabe Harmon, Platte County R-3

Megan Swinney, Pleasant Hill

Jose Avila, Turner

Raegan Hecker, Blue Springs South

Tyler Terrance, Lee’s Summit

Ashley Bell, Platte County

Ashlyn Henrie, Shawnee Mission West

Ashton Verhulst, Bishop Miege

Addison Brand, Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy

Brooke Illum, Olathe Northwest

Brody White, Jayhawk-Linn

McKenzie Brockhoff, North Platte

Isaiah Jackson, William Chrisman

Hunter Willyard, Spring Hill

McKenzie Brockhoff, North Platte

Molly Kaemmer, Olathe East

Tyler Wissel, Shawnee Mission South

Leilani Brooks-Jackson, Hogan Preparatory

Madison Koller, Shawnee Mission North

David Brown, Blue Valley West

Annie McCord, Lee’s Summit North

Sophia Cissell, Saint Pius X

Samantha Moburg, Lansing

Allison Comer, St. James Academy

Zeke Oppriecht, Summit Christian Academy

Chante’ Crusoe, Grandview

Aaron Porter, Truman

Alise David, The Barstow School

Isacc Riggs, Midway R-1

Evelyn Diederich, Blue Valley

Connor Schmidt, Eudora

Jake English, Olathe South

Jayona Shields, Turner

Tyler Green, Mill Valley

Daniel Stillwell, Schlagle High School 13

PAST AWARD WINNERS Company of Character 2019 – Kissick Construction 2017-18 – Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Kansas City 2016 – Searcy Financial Services 2015 – Sports Management Associates 2014 – Geiger Ready-Mix 2013 – Curry Association Management

High School Student-Athlete of Character 2019 – Jacob Dodd, Raytown South High School 2017-18 – Baylie Andersen, Lee’s Summit West High School 2016 – McKenzie Weber, Blue Valley Southwest High School 2015 – Leticia Rodriguez, Cristo Rey Kansas City High School 2014 – Bianca and Francesca Viazolli, Blue Valley West High School 2013 – Nate Mohler, Bishop Miege High School

Citizens of Character 2015 – Michael Wheeler 2014 – Paul Barnds 2013 – Bill Stueck

Collegiate Student-Athlete of Character 2019 – Alex Ewalt, Olivet Nazarene University 2017-18 – Levi Coleman & Mitchell Vechione, Southwestern Christian 2016 – Mico Janicijevic, Missouri Baptist University 2015 – Tyler Keith, Mount Mercy University 2014 – Nathane Simniok, College of the Ozarks 2013 – Darcy Mascotti and Danielle Hoop, University of the Cumberlands

Coach of Character 2019 – Eric Davis, Lee’s Summit North High School 2017-18 – Mike Allen, Olathe South High School 2016 – Kristi Williams, Blue Springs South High School 2015 – Wiley Wright, Shawnee Mission East High School 2014 – Tim Callaghan, Shawnee Mission West High School 2013 – Tricia Lillygren, Lee’s Summit North High School

Character Honorees 2019 – Tamika Catchings, VP of Basketball Operations, Indiana Fever 2017-18 – Jay Bilas, ESPN Analyst 2016 – Jerry Colangelo, Managing Director of USA Basketball 2015 – Dayton Moore, Manager of the Kansas City Royals 2014 – Tom Watson, Professional Golfer 2013 – Tom Osborne, Legendary Football Coach

Team of Character 2019 – North Kansas City High School Girls Basketball 2017-18 – Shawnee Mission East Boys and Girls Cross Country 2016 – Lee’s Summit North High School Boys Tennis

Character in Competition Honorees 2019 – Kate Wynja, Sioux Falls Christian High School 14

Work hard, play hard.

We’ve got you covered.

Protecting Your Play Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company and Relation Insurance Services are proud to support the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. www.4studentathletes.com

Participant Accident Medical Insurance products and services are offered by Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company. Home Office: 3300 Mutual of Omaha Plaza, Omaha, NE 68175. 1-800-228-1011.

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PROUD TO HONOR THOSE WHO ARE GOING PLACES. MMGY Global, the world’s largest integrated travel marketing firm, is a proud sponsor of the NAIA Champions of Character® awards luncheon.