United Way of the Columbia-Willamette (UWCW) and Warner Pacific University have announced a new four-year partnership to support student-athletes who lead through service. Through a $290,000 donation, United Way is funding two undergraduate scholarship programs: the United Way of the Columbia-Willamette Scholarship and the United Way of the Columbia-Willamette Champions of Character Scholarship.
The Donor Gift Agreement was signed earlier this spring by UWCW President and CEO Kelly O’Lague and Warner Pacific President Dr. Brian L. Johnson.
The United Way of the Columbia-Willamette Scholarship provides five incoming first-year student-athletes with $5,000 annually for four years. To qualify, recipients must be full-time students participating in approved NAIA leadership programs and varsity athletics.
The Champions of Character Scholarship awards $5,000 each spring to one male and one female student-athlete who exemplify the NAIA’s Core Values: integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship, and servant leadership. Candidates are nominated by their coaches, with final selections made by a committee including Warner Pacific’s Athletic Director, Faculty Athletics Representative, and Sports Information Director.
The first Champions of Character recipients, announced in Spring 2025, are soccer player Elliot McClafferty and softball player Rachel Behn, recognized for their excellence in academics, athletics, and community service.
UWCW leadership recently visited Warner Pacific to meet Acting President Doug Wade and the Executive Cabinet. The visit included a campus tour, a hosted board meeting, and a lunch in appreciation of the new partnership.
These scholarships reflect Warner Pacific’s ongoing commitment to cultivating student-athletes as leaders both on and off the field.