PAIXAO OF MEN'S SOCCER SELECTED AS NAIA STUDENT-ATHLETE OF CHARACTER

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has honored five individuals, including a DWU junior, as a part of the annual Champions of Character® Foundation Awards.  Lucas Paixao Trindade, São Paolo, Brazil, was selected as the Collegiate Student-Athlete of Character.

Paixao first came to the U.S. as a student-athlete in 2018 to attend Coastal Bend Junior College in Texas.  He transferred to Dakota Wesleyan and is currently studying Sports, Exercise and Wellness.  Since arriving at DWU in January 2021, he has displayed exceptional leadership in the classroom, on the pitch, and as a student manager and student assistant.  Paixao was voted co-captain of the 2021 Men's Soccer team, promoted to student manager at the campus cafeteria, and recruited as a student assistant to help create DWU's International Student Services.  

As the student assistant for DWU's International Student Services, Paixao's accomplishments have included assisting with Dakota Wesleyan's first International Student Orientation for new international students.  He helped to update DWU's website to include a step-by-step process from admissions to obtaining a visa to better serve future international students, proposed a scholarship specifically for international students to help offset the cost of travel to the U.S. and played a vital role in the overall culture of DWU to create a more welcoming environment for international students who attend Dakota Wesleyan University.

"Character-driven athletics are a primary focus for us and our institutions," said NAIA President and CEO Jim Carr. "These honorees embody those five core values, and we are excited to celebrate their achievements."

Those receiving recognition were feted at a luncheon on Nov. 9, 2021, at the Marriott Muehlebach Hotel in downtown Kansas City, Mo. Kansas City Royals and NAIA Institution Graduate John Sherman served as this year's keynote speaker.  Other awards presented included:

• Company of Character: Giving the Basics, Kansas City, Kan.

• Team of Character: Lee's Summit, Mo., High School Boys Cross Country Team
• Coach of Character: Daryl Kearney, Southeast High School, Kansas City, Mo.
• High School Student-Athlete of Character: Ryan Thompson, Rockhurst High School, Kansas City, Mo.

The Champions of Character Foundation Awards and Virtual Fundraiser celebrates the character values of those who make a difference in the culture of sport and in a community. Support from the event is designed to create a better culture of sport through the advancement of character education programs that intentionally teach the five core values to young people.

About DWU

DWU is a private, liberal arts university associated with the Dakotas Conference of the United Methodist Church, that is rooted in four values: lifelong learning, leadership development, faith exploration and genuine service to others. For more information about Dakota Wesleyan University, go to www.dwu.edu.

About National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA)

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., is a governing body of small athletics programs that are dedicated to character-driven intercollegiate athletics. NAIA members provide more than 77,000 student-athletes with opportunities to play college sports, earn $800 million in scholarships and compete in 27 national championships. www.naia.org