LA MIRADA, Calif. --- (Courtesy the Golden State Athletic Conference) The Golden State Athletic Conference will honor 18 student-athletes from across the conference with the Cliff 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 on each GSAC campus who demonstrates outstanding athletic achievement, campus and community leadership, future ambition and embraces the five core character values of the NAIA Champions of Character program (Respect, Responsibility, Integrity, Sportsmanship and Servant Leadership).

Student-athletes must 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 its inception in 1986 to 2012. Dr. Hamlow was also a key leader in the creation of the NAIA's Champions of Character program.

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

The banquet will be held at the Doubletree Hotel close to Orange County's John Wayne Airport and begin at 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
51ÂÜÀò: 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