In an effort to honor the achievements of exceptional student-athletes, the Missouri Valley Conference has created the State Farm MVC Good Neighbor Award.  Ten student-athletes have been named by Commissioner Doug Elgin as the honorees for the 2017-18 Spring season.

This year’s Spring honorees include Malini Wijesinghe, Bradley, Women's Tennis; Olivia Rogers, Drake, Women's Outdoor Track & Field; Alexandra Latoria, Evansville, Softball; Kiley Walsh, Illinois State, Women's Golf; Bailey Martin, Indiana State, Softball; Brooke Wilson, Loyola, Softball; Claire Schwarz, Missouri State, Women's Outdoor Track & Field; Savanna Hunt, UNI, Women's Tennis; Katelyn Massa, Southern Illinois, Softball; Madison McCreary, Valparaiso, Women's Golf.

In order to be eligible for the award, the student-athlete must be in good academic standing, must demonstrate good citizenship through good sportsmanship and significant community service, and must participate in a sport, during the season of recognition.  The Valley will recognize 10 student-athletes three times annually (fall, winter, spring), for a total of 30 honorees.  Institutions select their State Farm MVC Good Neighbor Award honorees.

Malini Wijesinghe, Bradley, Women's Tennis, Junior

• 3.98 GPA in Biochemistry, Spanish and Philosophy
• Academic Dean's List (2016, 17)
• Bradley Athletic Director's Honor Roll (2016, 17)
• MVC All-Conference Scholar-Athlete (2016, 17)
• MVC Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award (2016, 17)
• MVC Honor Roll (2016, 17)
• MVC Scholar-Athlete Team (2017)
• Bradley COUNTRY Financial Scholar-Athlete of the Week (2018)
• Outstanding Student in World Languages and Cultures Department (2017)
• Jeanne Mund-Lagowski Award in Biochemistry (2017)
• Bradley SAAC Member (2016-18)
• Community Service:
  • Bradley Clean Up Crew
  • Special Olympics Bowling
  • Service on Saturday
  • Shute School Literacy Night
  • Glen Oak Primary School Classroom Help
  • Roosevelt Magnet School Reader
  • Pleasant Valley Elementary Help
  • Tennis with Whittier Primary School Latchkey Kids
  • Neighborhood House Santa for Seniors

Olivia Rogers, Drake, Women's Outdoor Track & Field, Sophomore

• 3.65 GPA in Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology
• Dean's List
• Community Service:
  • Children & Families of Iowa Domestic Violence Shelter
  • Lafayette Peer Empowerment Program Mentor
  • Joppa Houses
  • National Girls & Women is Sports Day
  • Meals from the Heartland

Alexandra Latoria, Evansville, Softball, Junior

• 3.337 cumulative GPA
• Student-Athlete Academic Honors (2016-17, 2017-18)
• Community Service:
  • St. Charles Angels Softball Organization
  • Ozanam Family Shelter
  • Cardio for Canines
  • Holly's House
  • Santa Rotary Run
  • Reading with the Aces Day
  • Good Samaritan
  • Toys for Tots
  • UE Soccer Trick or Treat
  • League of their Own
  • Boo at the Zoo
  • UE Softball Camps

Kiley Walsh, Illinois State, Women's Golf, Senior

• 3.96 cumulative GPA in Spanish Teacher Education
• Illinois State University Bone Scholar (2017-18)
• Illinois State University Presidential Scholar (2014-18)
• MVC Honor Roll (2014-18)
• Illinois State University SAAC Member (2016-18)
• Illinois State SAAC Vice President (2017-18)
• First Team All-MVC Women's Golf Scholar-Athlete (2015-16, 2016-17)
• Student-Athlete Representative on the Illinois State University Athletic Council
• Community Service:
  • Children's Golf Clinic
  • Midwest Food Bank
  • Weisbecker Scholarship Fund 110% Guest Speaker
  • After school tutor for students at the Unity Community Center
  • Spanish-English interpreter in parent teacher conferences

Bailey Martin, Indiana State, Softball, Junior

• 4.00 GPA (last 3 semesters)
• Dean's List (5 semesters)
• Presidential Scholar Nominee
• Softball SAAC Representative
• Community Service:
  • Sycamore Softball Team Clinic
  • Sycamore Softball Skill Camps
  • Relay for Life
  • Soup Kitchen
  • Blanket making

Brooke Wilson, Loyola, Softball, Junior

• 3.920 GPA in Psychology, preparing for Dental School and the DAT exam
• Easton/National Fastpitch Coaches Association Scholar-Athlete Team
• Member of the team that received the Rambler Cup
• Community Service:
  • Chicago Marathon
  • Halloween event
  • Misericordia care community
  • St. Thomas soup kitchen

Claire Schwarz, Missouri State, Women's Outdoor Track & Field, Junior

• MVC Honor Roll (2015-16, 2016-17)
• Dean's List (Fall 2015, Spring 2017, Summer 2017, Fall 2017)
• Athletic Director's Honor Roll (Fall 2015, Fall 2016, Fall 2017)
• Maroon & White Scholar-Athlete (Spring 2016, Spring 2017, Spring 2018)
• Community Service:
  • Buddy Bears
  • Boys & Girls Club
  • Friends Against Hunger
  • Midwest Seals
  • Habitat for Humanity
  • Communication Partners
  • SAAC Representatives
  • Student-Athletes for Excellence

Savanna Hunt, UNI, Women's Tennis, Senior

• 3.64 cumulative GPA
• Dean's List (Spring 2015 Fall 2015, Spring 2016, Fall 2016, Spring 2017, Fall 2018)
• Student Athlete Advisory Committee Co-president
• Community Service:
  • Junior Panther Night
  • Pro-Joe Challenge Fundraiser
  • 4H Omelet Breakfast
  • Split-The-Pot Raffle Fundraisers
  • Adult and Juniors Tennis Clinics Fundraiser
  • Panthers Play Program with local elementary school
  • Panther Reading Program

Katelyn Massa, Southern Illinois, Softball, Sophomore

• 3.5 GPA
• MVC Academic Honor Roll (2017)
• Community Service:
  • Game Show Night, hosted by SAAC
  • Pumpkin Fest

Madison McCreary, Valparaiso, Women's Golf, Junior

• 3.630 cumulative GPA in Elementary Education with minors in Special Education and Mathematics
• Horizon League Honor Roll (2016, 17)
• Dean's List (Spring 2016, Spring 2017)
• Community Service: 
  • Gamma Phi Beta member
  • Student Alumni Association
  • University Programming Council
    • Free movies on the West Lawn
    • Concert in the Spring
  • Kappa Delta Pi, an International Honor Society for Education
    • Babysitting nights
    • Supply drives for classrooms in need
  • Tri-County Council Summer Camp (3 summers)
  • Batesville Mayor's Youth Council