BROWNSVILLE, Texas -- The University of Texas-Brownsville women's soccer team was recognized as an NAIA Champion of Character and was presented with the organization's Buffalo Funds Five Star Award.

The NAIA acknowledges one team from each of the 23 championship sports with the Five Star Award.

According to the NAIA, teams that receive this prestigious award "demonstrate in every day decisions respect, responsibility, integrity, servant leadership and sportsmanship. These institutions and athletic programs strive for excellence in and out of competition and are part of communities throughout the country dedicated to character-driven intercollegiate athletics. Seventeen NAIA women's soccer schools were nominated for the award, and the Scorpion women's soccer team was selected.

"They reached out to many people who aren't related to their program, or have nothing to do with soccer," NAIA Manager of Championship Sports Kristin Gillette said. "They have helped whether it's on-campus or off-campus, helping with the oil spill, helping with sea turtle rescue, people with disabilities, leadership on campus, specifically women's leadership."

Scorpion head women's soccer coach Nik Barjaktarevic was very proud of the award.

"This is a great honor for our program, our University as well as the community," Barjaktarevic said. "I'm very proud of our players for emphasizing the importance of always doing the right things and getting involved the right way. We are very fortunate to have this great group of student-athletes that are getting things done both on the field and in the classroom."

On the nomination for the award, Barjaktarevic wrote, "It showed how important doing the right thing all the time is, and this relates every single thing we do on the field, in the classroom, community, and ultimately in our lives."

On the field this season, the Scorpions posted a 12-4-2 record and advanced to the Red River Athletic Conference tournament. UTB was eliminated in the tournament semifinals.

"We believe that five core values representing the NAIA's Champions of Character program are the essential part of not only a winning program but having our student-athletes winners for life," Barjaktarevic said. "Our players are embracing this philosophy, being champions of character everyday and we want to thank the NAIA for honoring our women's soccer team with this prestigious award."

During the 2009-10 season, the Scorpions volunteered at PetSmart, Brownsville Humane Society and the Brownsville P.A.W.S. organization with adoption drives for dogs and cats.

Team members read to local Putegnat Elementary students during National Library Week and several student-athletes visited Victoria Heights Elementary School to hand out academic awards to students. They also volunteered at the South Padre Island beach cleanup and the South Padre Island sea turtle rescue during fall training camp.

The Scorpions also had the privilege of actually saving a sea turtle from a net stranded on the beach in the hot sun. There are only 45-50 rescues per year, so the timing and efforts were greatly rewarded. The team has also participated in a local girl scout camp.

"They demonstrated great sportsmanship as the team with the fewest fouls per game this season," Assistant Coach Shane Sanchez said. "We pride ourselves in being a clean hard working team, who never play dirty. We have always maintained integrity win or lose, not only by shaking hands with the other team and the officials but our positive attitude and respect for the game. They demonstrate responsibility by having class attendance and high team GPA as one of major team goals. Our players made a commitment to themselves to sit in the front row during class and have perfect attendance."