HELENA -- It isn't just athletic success happening in Butte, America. 

Montana Tech won the 2025-26 Frontier Conference School of Character award, presented by WinWon Technologies, recognizing the Orediggers' outstanding commitment to the NAIA Champions of Character® initiative and the development of student-athletes who exemplify integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship, and servant leadership. 

The annual award recognizes the Frontier Conference institution that best demonstrates a culture where character development is intentionally integrated with academic and athletic excellence. Montana Tech earned the honor through a department-wide commitment to making the NAIA's five core values a daily standard for every student-athlete, coach, and staff member. 

"Montana Tech has built a culture where character drives every aspect of the student-athlete experience," Dr. Scott Crawford, the Frontier Conference's commissioner, said. "The Orediggers have demonstrated that excellence on the field, in the classroom and in the community begins with a commitment to developing leaders of integrity. Their student-athletes and staff consistently embody the values of the Champions of Character program, making them a deserving recipient of this year's Frontier Conference School of Character award." 

Montana Tech's commitment to character is reflected throughout the student-athlete experience, from recruiting individuals who demonstrate strong values to reinforcing accountability, respect, and servant leadership through daily interactions. The department strives to create an environment where success is measured not only by accomplishments, but also by how those accomplishments are achieved. 

One of the department's signature community engagement initiatives is Walk to School with the Diggers, an annual program created more than a decade ago by Montana Tech student-athletes. Organized and led entirely by current student-athletes, the event connects Oredigger teams with every elementary school in the Butte-Silver Bow School District while promoting mentorship, inclusion, and healthy lifestyles. Throughout the year, Montana Tech student-athletes also volunteer with youth organizations, food assistance programs, Special Olympics, blood drives, and numerous community service initiatives across southwest Montana. 

The department's commitment to character has also translated into success in the classroom and in competition. Montana Tech has captured four consecutive George R. Bandy Memorial All-Sports Awards, while every athletic program earned NAIA Scholar-Team recognition during the past academic year with cumulative grade-point averages above 3.0. Oredigger teams have also claimed conference championships, earned national tournament appearances, and achieved national rankings—accomplishments the department views as a byproduct of its character-centered approach to leadership and development. 

With the conference honor, Montana Tech will also serve as the Frontier Conference's nominee for the NAIA Champions of Character Institution Award. That honor will be announced on NAIA Awards Day, September 15. 

Frontier Conference NAIA Athletic Directors Association representative Matt Stepan noted that the award carries added significance because it is selected by fellow conference members. 

Stepan also recognized Montana Tech's unique ability to combine academic rigor, competitive success, and community engagement, noting that Oredigger student-athletes excel while pursuing some of the nation's most demanding STEM and health-related degree programs and consistently making a positive impact on campus and throughout the community. 

Beginning this fall, Montana Tech will further strengthen its commitment to student-athlete development with the launch of the Digger Athletics Leadership Academy. The department-wide initiative will provide education in servant leadership, communication, emotional intelligence, financial literacy, career preparation, and community engagement while connecting student-athletes with alumni, campus leaders, and community mentors. 

The Frontier Conference School of Character Award recognizes institutions that demonstrate an unwavering commitment to the ideals of the NAIA Champions of Character program and serve as models for developing student-athletes who positively impact their campuses, communities, and future professions. 

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