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Inaugural Champions of Sports and Life event

October 11, 2013

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The St. Thomas University Athletics Department will host its inaugural NAIA Champions of Character Panel Discussion on Tuesday, October 15 where students will learn from successful individuals from the sports world on the application of the five core values of Respect, Responsibility, Integrity, Sportsmanship and Servant Leadership.

International Tennis Hall of Fame member Butch Buchholz, professional race car driver Milka Duno, and former Miami Dolphins Player Judge Ed Newman headline the list of panelists who will share their life experiences with the students through the prism of the Champions of Character core values.

Inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2005, Buchholz reached No. 5 in the world as an amateur in 1960 and was U.S. Pro Champion in 1961. Following his playing career, he became Executive Director of the ATP and the Commissioner of World Team Tennis. He later founded the International Tennis Players Championships in South Florida in 1985. That event, today known as the Sony Open, has established itself as one of the world’s premier tournaments.

The event will begin at 7 p.m. at the Fernandez Family Center for Leadership and Wellness on the St. Thomas University campus. Approximately 500 attendees are expected at the event, including all 260 St. Thomas University student-athletes representing 12 varsity sports. For more information on St. Thomas University, visit www.stu.edu. For more information on St. Thomas University Athletics, go to www.stubobcats.com.

About NAIA Champions of Character

Champions of Character was developed by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), which formally teaches character through athletics at its member colleges and universities. Since 2000, Champions of Character has provided free training and resources to help those who work in athletics make character development a priority. Since the inception of the program, St. Thomas University has been recognized as a Champion of Character Five-Star Institution by the NAIA for exemplary implementation of the program. For more information on the NAIA Champions of Character program, visit naia.org