Lawrence Tech linebacker Robbie Best (21) scored a touchdown on this fumble recovery in the Blue Devils' first football game in 72 years Sept. 1, a win over Oakland University's club team in front of nearly 4,000 fans.LTU photo.

Lawrence Technological University has been named a Five-Star Institution by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) for achievement in character-driven athletics.

The NAIA ranks its 250-plus member institutions for performance in training, promotion, conduct in competition, and commitment to the five core values of the NAIA’s Champions of Character Initiative – integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship, and servant leadership.

Lawrence Tech was one of only 12 NAIA colleges and universities to achieve a perfect score of 100 points in the ranking. It was the only NAIA institution in Michigan to achieve that mark.

The conference in which Lawrence Tech competes in most sports, the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC), was also named a NAIA Five-Star Conference. To achieve this distinction, a conference must establish a Champions of Character Conference Committee, establish a conduct-in-competition oversight committee composed of a minimum of three members, and have at least 60 percent of its members receive the NAIA Champions of Character Five-Star Institution Award.

Lawrence Tech reintroduced a full intercollegiate athletic program in the 2011-12 school year, and now offers 26 men’s and women’s sports, including the addition of a football team this fall.

“Lawrence Tech strives to make its intercollegiate athletic programs rewarding for our student-athletes, and exciting and fun for our students, faculty, staff, parents, and fans in the community,” Lawrence Tech President Virinder Moudgil said. “The Five-Star Institution award is further evidence of the fact that Lawrence Tech makes its athletic programs an extension of our classrooms and laboratories, teaching valuable life lessons in teamwork, sportsmanship, and fair play.”

Lawrence Tech Athletic Director Scott Trudeau called the designation “a true testament to our student athletes and how they represent themselves on and off the field of play.  Our Student Athlete Advisory Council really was the reason we received this honor this year, as they worked tirelessly with our Champion of Character Liason Karen Baird to challenge each team to get involved.  When you have students passionate about something, it will be very successful.”

The NAIA, headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., is a governing body of intercollegiate athletics programs that are dedicated to character-driven competition. Since 1937, the NAIA has administered programs and championships in proper balance with the overall educational experience. Each year more than 65,000 student-athletes have the opportunity to play college sports at NAIA member institutions.