Women’s Indoor Track and Field Team Grabs National COC Honor

William Penn Women’s Athletics

Oskaloosa–A team beginning to find its groove on the competition surface, the William Penn women’s indoor track and field squad is already a champion in so many other ways and it now has an award to prove it.

The program was recently recognized as the NAIA Buffalo Funds Five Star Champions of Character Team of the Year for 2012-2013. The award, the first-ever for the program, is the second in less than a year for William Penn as the women’s golf team also earned the honor last spring.

The award is given annually to the team that best represents the five core values the NAIA embraces, which includes respect, responsibility, integrity, servant leadership, and sportsmanship.

The Statesmen were great in all five areas, but the most visible one–servant leadership–was accomplished in spades for the navy and gold.

William Penn began its year of service in late September by helping Habitat for Humanity build several yard sheds for families. In October, the program members helped the YMCA set up and monitor runners for its Freaky Friday fun run.

The following month, student-athletes volunteered with the annual American Association of University Women’s Book Drive. They carried in and unloaded boxes of donations as well as set up tables. The book drive helped raise over $4,000 for local scholarships and other community projects and events promoted by the AAUW.

December brought about the Salvation Army’s Kettle campaign and William Penn was again right there, helping raise over $900 that will remain in Mahaska County and help those less fortunate.

The final project the team assisted with prior to its nomination came in January when team members served lunch to Special Olympics athletes at their annual Play Day on the WPU campus.

Not only did the Statesmen student-athletes perform numerous service projects, but they were also commendable in spreading the NAIA’s COC message. They took time during nearly every event to talk about the COC’s core values.

“I am so excited for our women’s track team winning the NAIA’s Champions of Character award,” Head Coach Allen Friesen said. “It is well-deserved for all the efforts that were put forth this last fall. This award not only belongs to the women’s track team but to the entire track program as well as the William Penn University and Oskaloosa communities. It proves by working together everyone benefits and many, many lives can be touched.”