Juniors Nicole Allen and Katie Toups represented the University of Kentucky gymnastics team as inductees into the Society of Character in a ceremony held at halftime of the UK mens basketball game versus Vanderbilt on Saturday, Jan. 27.

The Society of Character is part of the University of Kentucky’s CHAMPS / Life Skills Program. It is designed to help student-athletes realize the value of higher academic achievement, a higher level of maturity, self-responsibility and greater overall success. The Society of Character was founded in 1998 to recognize those individuals who epitomize the term “student-athlete”. Each candidate is nominated by a counselor, coach, trainer or manager and then evaluated on five criteria:
commitment to academic excellence commitment to athletic participation, commitment to personal development, commitment to being a role-model, and commitment to preparing for the world of work.

The mission of the Society of Character is:
to recognize student-athletes who have achieved and continue to achieve a high level in all areas of their life. to bring together these high achieving student-athletes for interactive programs. to further enhance the high achieving student-athletes’ best interests and well being to promote continued interaction with other organizations.

Each candidate nominated for election into the Society of Character must meet the following requirements:

must have completed a minimum of 30 hours prior to nomination

must have a competitive grade point average

must demonstrate a commitment to their academic success as well as to personal development, career development and service activities.

Toups also is a two-time Academic All-America selection by the National Association of Collegiate Gymnastics Coaches/Women, while Allen won here first honor in 2000.