November 25, 2025
MADISON, S.D. – The Frontier Conference announced their football East Division Champions of Character recipients Tuesday. The Champions of Character award is presented by conference's partner WinWon Technologies.
The head coach from each Frontier Conference member selects the recipient that fits to the NAIA's Champions of Character initiative program's five core values that include integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship, and servant leadership.
The mission of the NAIA's Champions of Character program is to provide training to instill the values that build character so that students, coaches, and parents know, do, and value the right thing on and off the field.
The Champions of Character program helps participants find balance by keeping the five core values – integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship, and servant leadership – at the heart of the athletics experience. In the NAIA, we strive to be The Right Way to Play!
Senior 5-foot-9 and 205 lbs. linebacker
Cole Paulson from Pipestone, Minn., was the Champions of Character recipient for Dakota State.
"Cole is a two-time team captain, the nicest guy I have ever met," said head coach
Josh Anderson. "I ask each athlete to get 30 hours of volunteer service each year, and Cole has over 400 hours in 4 years.
"He is a 3.8-plus grade point average student, started the football team bible study, as well as the school FCA chapter," added Anderson. "He volunteers for anything and everything and is a major part of leadership groups and leadership counsel."
Paulson also earned NAIA and conference academic honors during his career at Dakota State University.
He finished the 2025 season with 48 tackles (10 solos, 38 assists) for the Trojans, who finished their season with an overall record of 8-2 and No. 24 ranking in the final Netting Professional NAIA Football Coaches' Top 25 poll. Paulson also had 2.5 tackles-for-loss of five yards.
He caught two interceptions for DSU, with one interception being a 'Pick Six' 60-yard return for a touchdown in 37-7 Ag Bowl victory over NCAA Division III Nebraska Wesleyan on Sept. 6 at Brian Kern Family Stadium on Blankley Field.
Cole is studying business education at Dakota State University.
