LA MIRADA, Calif.--- (Courtesy the Golden State Athletic Conference) The Golden State Athletic Conference will honor 18 student-athletes from across the conference with theCliff Hamlow Champion of Character award during a banquet on Sunday, March 8.

The Cliff Hamlow Champion of Character Award is given to one male and one female student-athlete oneach GSAC campus who demonstrates outstanding athletic achievement, campus and communityleadership, future ambition and embraces the five core character values of the NAIA Champions ofCharacter program (Respect, Responsibility, Integrity, Sportsmanship and Servant Leadership).

Student-athletesmust be at least a junior academically and carry a 3.0 GPA.

The award is named after former Commissioner Cliff Hamlow who served the conference from itsinception in 1986 to 2012. Dr. Hamlow was also a key leader in the creation of the NAIA's Champions ofCharacter program.

"I am pleased that we were able to develop an award like this that honors deserving student-athletes inregards to the character ideals that they hold as part of the NAIA and the GSAC," said current GSACCommissioner Mike Daniels.

The banquet will be held at the Doubletree Hotel close to Orange County's John Wayne Airport and beginat 4:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased through the GSAC office.

The 2015 award recipients are:
Arizona Christian University: Jackson Helms Men's Basketball and Mackenzie Worden Volleyball
晩晩当際際夊消消夊2023: Mike Kurtz Men's Basketball and Amy Weststeyn Volleyball
Concordia University: Tommy Stangl Men's Basketball and Samantha Leanza - Swimming
Hope International University: Chris Tyler Men's Soccer and Brittany Bauman Women's Basketball
San Diego Christian College: John Leih Men's Soccer and Jontae Campbell Women's Soccer
The Master's College: Steve Karkenny Baseball and Jessica Long Women's Soccer
Vanguard University: Chris Gorman Men's Basketball and Jaime Goff Women's Basketball
Westmont College: Russell Harmening Baseball and Madison Serrano Volleyball
William Jessup University: Michael Basuini Cross Country and Heather Zanni Cross Country