KANSAS CITY, Mo.— The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), the governing body for athletics at more than 250 colleges and universities, is proud to announce the launch of its new campaign: "The Right Way to Play."
 
This grassroots campaign is designed to amplify the distinct value of the NAIA, solidifying the association as The Right Way to Play, weaving its story through the lens of NAIA membership.
 
"The world of college sports has undergone a seismic shift in the past decade, with changes that often stray from the values that once defined it," said NAIA President and CEO Jim Carr. "The NAIA champions the authentic spirit of college athletics, allowing student-athletes to compete in sports they are passionate about, while also emphasizing academics, character development and community involvement. Now more than ever, the NAIA is the right way to play."
 
Balancing growth of the whole person with athletic achievement is just one aspect that the NAIA will promote with the campaign. Common-sense regulations, innovative tools for building successful athletics programs and character-driven competition are other aspects that embody the NAIA model.
 
The campaign also engages NAIA's membership to amplify the story of the NAIA as college athletics the way it was meant to be.
 
"Montreat College is thrilled to partner with the NAIA on this new campaign," said Director of Athletics Garrett Jones. "The NAIA and Montreat College are aligned in so many ways, and this campaign is just another example of that. Like the NAIA's Champions of Character initiative, 'The Right Way to Play' is a message that we believe in strongly here at Montreat College. We look forward to integrating it into everything we do. From recruiting efforts to game day competitions, we believe the NAIA provides student-athletes an opportunity to play collegiate athletics the right way. We are academically focused; they are students before athletes. We develop the whole student: mind, body and spirit. We strive to pursue excellence in these principles, and we believe this is the right way to play."

The 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 83,000 student-athletes with opportunities to play college sports, earn $1.3 billion in financial aid from NAIA institutions and compete in 29 national championships.
 
Montreat College is a private, Christian, liberal arts college founded in 1916 that offers associate, bachelor's and master's degree programs for traditional and adult students. Montreat College's main campus for four-year traditional students is located in Montreat, N.C., in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, just outside Asheville, N.C. Montreat College Online, offered through the School of Adult and Graduate Studies, has more than 25 online associate, bachelor's and master's degrees.