Bobcat Golf Team Honored as Champions of Character Team

(Peru, Neb.) – Peru State has been participating in the NAIA's Champions of Character Program for many years and has earned gold recognition as one of the top schools in the NAIA in terms of academics, character training, recognition, and promotion, as well as conduct in competition. The Bobcats have earned the "gold level" each of the past two years after nine years of either at the silver or bronze level.
 
The athletic department decided last year that they should be recognizing a team for their efforts in helping the entire department earn the award.
 
After a review of the efforts of all of the athletic teams, the Peru State women's golf team was selected as the first-ever Peru State Champions of Character team.  There were many reasons for the selection for the women's golf team

For the past few years, the golf team has had the highest team grade point average. Last year, the team finished with a 3.767 cumulative grade point average. Also, the golfers had the highest per person average of community service hours as they completed nearly 50 hours each. In addition, members of the team have been campus leaders including the Peru Association of Student Athletes (PASA) and on the Heart of America's student-athlete group. To add to this, members of the team were the department's nominees for different conference awards with one of the members earning the top junior female conference award for last year.
 
Members of last year's team included Vivian Brown (Wichita, Kan.), Taylor Finke (Battle Creek), Sydney Neal (Peru), and Kayla Myers (Sidney, Iowa). Sue Owen is the coach of the team.
 
Peru State president Dr. Dan Hanson and the First Lady Elaine Hanson made the ceremonial presentation of the first award to the golf team during a recent women's basketball game.
 
Bobcat athletic director Wayne Albury helped establish the department honor and was pleased to have announced the golf team as the first awardees. Albury noted, "While we should have been recognizing teams in the past, I am happy that we have started this annual process. The Bobcat golf team has long been a leader in the athletic department in all aspects of the Champions of Character program. They are deserving to have been selected as the first honorees."