NU’s Raney receives CCC Champions of Character award

Published 2:10 pm Tuesday, June 9, 2015

The following is a release from Northwest University:

Two student-athletes have been chosen for the 2015 Cascade Collegiate Conference Les Schwab Champions of Character award in Eastern Oregon’s Nikki Osborne and Northwest’s Kieran Raney, the conference office announced on June 9.

Raney has been a member of the NU men’s soccer team for just two seasons, but his commitment to helping young people in Africa has been going on for some time. The 5-9 Eagle midfielder has spent his spring and summer breaks as a part of Adventure Soccer, a faith-based organization founded by his father Matt. Their travels take them to Swaziland and the curriculum emphasizes sportsmanship, team play and integrity in every participant as well as developing the technical side of each player – very much in line with the core tenets of the Champions of Character program of Integrity: Respect, Responsibility, Sportsmanship, and Servant Leadership.

Adventure Soccer partners directly with Leadership for Africa in the operation of The Sandra Lee Centre Orphanage, a home for rescued and abandoned children. In addition, Adventure Soccer builds Carepoint Feeding Stations to help provide food for orphan & needy children. Soccer camps are used to identify children in need and organize soccer teams in order to teach, disciple and mentor the children.

“We’re very proud of Kieran winning this award,” said NU Director of Athletics, Gary McIntosh (also men’s soccer coach). “He has shown through his selfless work in Africa his commitment to helping make the world a better place. He is also a pleasure to coach.”