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 2019-20 Fall season.

This year’s Fall honorees include Jacob Hoffert, Bradley, Men's Cross Country/Track; Vanessa Kavan, Drake, Women's Soccer; Zac Blaydes, Evansville, Men's Soccer; Stef Jankiewicz, Illinois State, Women's Volleyball; Dante Hendrix, Indiana State, Football; Max O'Meara, Loyola, Men's Cross Country; Shelby Palmer, Missouri State, Women's Cross Country; Sydney Hayden, Northern Iowa, Women's Soccer; Madeleine (Lani) Cieszynski, Southern Illinois, Women's Swimming & Diving; Olivia Janke, Valparaiso, Women's Soccer

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.
 

Jacob Hoffert, Bradley, Men's Cross Country/Track, Senior
Academic Achievements

• 3.73 Cumulative GPA in Manufacturing Engineering
• NCAA Division I All-Academic Men’s Cross Country team (2017, 2018)
• NCAA Division I All-Academic Men’s Track and Field team (2017)
• MVC Scholar-Athlete (Spring 2017, Spring 2018, Fall 2018)
• Bradley University Dean’s List (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018)
• Bradley University Athletic Directors Honor Roll (2016, 2017, 2018)
• President of Bradley University Chapter of Materials Advantage

Community Service

• Habitat for Humanity – Thirteen (13) day construction work project in Clarksdale, Mississippi
• Sterling Middle School
• Woodrow Wilson School
• St. Mark's Church
• Illinois Valley Striders Half Marathon
• Bradley University Service on Saturday
• Bradley Cross Country Junior Day
• Yorkville Endurance Camp Guest Speaker
• Peoria Notre Dame Track and Field Guest Speaker
• Peoria South Side Mission

Vanessa Kavan, Drake, Women's Soccer, RS Senior
Academic Achievements

• 3.98 GPA in Marketing with a Minor in Graphic Design and Concentrations in Integrated Marketing Communications and Direct & Interactive Marketing
• 7-Time President’s List Recipient
• Dean’s List Recipient. MVC Scholar-Athlete First Team
• MVC President’s Council Academic Award Recipient
• MVC Commissioner’s Academic Excellence Award Recipient
• MVC Honor Roll

Community Service

• Courage League Sports
• Meals from the Heartland
• Food Bank of Iowa Combat Hunger Drive
• Sporting Iowa Pen Pal Mentor
• Above + Beyond Cancer
• Closing the Care Gap Marketing Campaign
• Breslyn’s Blankets of Love

Zac Blaydes, Evansville, Men's Soccer, Senior
Academic Achievements

• Exercise Science, Pre Physical Therapy Major, with an Exercise & Sport Psychology Minor
• GPA 3.884
• UE Dean’s List the past 8 Semesters
• 2 time UE Scholar Athlete
• 2016 MVC Scholar-Athlete Men’s Soccer First Team
• 2017 MVC Commissioner’s Academic Excellence Award
• 2017 MVC Honor Roll
• 2019 MVC Presidents Council Academic Excellence Award

Community Service

• UE SAAC Member
• Mickey’s Kingdom
• Holiday Reading at Elementary Schools
• MLK Day Rally and March
• Reitz Memorial Walk
• YTBC
• Wesselman Woods

Stef Jankiewicz, Illinois State, Women's Volleyball, Junior
Academic Achievements

• 3.65 Student-Athlete, Criminal Justice Major, Spanish and Psychology Minor
• Enterprise MVC Scholar-Athlete Spotlight-10/9/2019
• MVC Commissioner’s List-18-19 year
• MVC Honor Roll-17-18, 18-19
• AFNI Student-Athlete Honor Roll Every semester of career, FA17, SP18, FA18, SP19

Community Service

• MarcFirst Reach Your Potential Volunteer
• Oakdale Elementary Babysitting
• Miller Park Zoo Stampede
• Eastview Church Volunteer
• Illinois State University Bird Bash
• Illinois State University MVC SAAC Rep –FA18-Current
• Oakdale Elementary Mentor Program-FA18-Current
• Local Elementary School Recess/Lunch Buddies Program-FA18-Current
• Illinois State University Residence Hall Curb Birds Volunteer-FA 18-Current

Dante Hendrix, Indiana State, Football, Junior
Academic Achievements

• Fall 2017 – 3.74 (Deans List)                
• Spring 2019 – 3.68 (Deans List)
• Spring 2018 – 3.62 (Deans List)            
• Cumulative GPA – 3.58
• Fall 2018 – 3.28                                   
• Missouri Valley Football Conference Academic Honor Roll

Community Service

• Happiness Bag (Spring 2019)                          
• Special Olympics (Summer 2019)
• Buddy Walk (Spring 2019)                               
• Terre Haute Boys and Girls Club (Fall 2019)
• Carination Cutting (Spring 2019)                      
• Down Syndrome Indiana (Spring 2018)

Max O'Meara, Loyola, Men's Cross Country, Senior
Academic Achievements

• 3.885 GPA in Biochemistry, minor Philosophy
• Member of LUC fraternity Phi Delta Epsilon (professional pre-medical fraternity)
• Scored 518 on MCAT, within the 96th percentile nationally
• Inducted into the Marron & Gold society (recognizes rising seniors who have demonstrated commitment to leadership, academic excellence and service to others)

Community Service

• 311 hours of community service completed through various volunteering opportunities (most recent being the medical tent at the Chicago Marathon)
• Member of EMT staff on campus, also helping proctor LUC EMT classes
• Aids in hosting a fashion show every year where the proceeds go to Lurie Children's hospital and other childrens hospitals around the country

Shelby Palmer, Missouri State, Women's Cross Country, Junior
Academic Achievements

• Dean’s List: Fall 2017, Spring 2018, Fall 2018, Spring 2019
• Athletic Director’s Honor Roll: Fall 2017, Spring 2018, Fall 2018, Spring 2019
• Maroon & White Scholar-Athlete: Spring 2018, Spring 2019
• MVC Commissioner’s Academic Excellence Award: 2019
• MVC Conference Honor Roll: 2018, 2019

Community Service

• Watershed Committee of the Ozarks
• Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count
• Missouri State University Culture Fair
• Mercy Children’s Hospital

Sydney Hayden, Northern Iowa, Women's Soccer, Senior
Academic Achievements

• MVC Scholar-Athlete Honorable Mention- Spring 2018
• MVC Scholar-Athlete First Team- Fall 2017
• MVC Elite 17 Award- Fall 2017
• MVC Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award 
• Dean's List- 2016-2019 terms
• MVC Honor Roll- 2016-2019 terms

Community Service

• Special Needs Prom, Night to Shine Ankeny IA
• Volunteered at Swim Meet
• Junior Panther Night— UNI Dome
• Stop and Serve- Made Workbooks and flashcards for refugees
• Special Olympics— UNI Dome
• Stop and Serve - Greeting cards for the senior center
• Rally in the Valley
• UNI Soccer ID Camp
• Panther Caravan
• UNI Soccer Camp Coaching
• Assisted with UNI Move-In Day
• Walk to end Alzheimers
• Walk to School Day
• PA Club Bickford Assisted Living Bingo Night
• Covenant Hospital Emergency Room Volunteer
• Junior Panther Night
• Wacky Winterfest @ Lincoln Elementary
• Special Olympics 
• Packaged Meals for the Heartland
• 4-H Omelet breakfast
• UNI Soccer Camp Volunteer for New Hampton Soccer Program
• Assisted with UNI Freshman Move-in Day
• Walk to End Alzheimers
• MLK Day Packaging Meals for Food Bank
• UNI Dance Marathon Meet and Greet
• Special Olympics- UNI Dome
• Walk to End Alzheimers
• Unload food for Panther Pantry

Madeleine (Lani) Cieszynski, Southern Illinois, Women's Swimming & Diving, Senior
Academic Achievements

• 3.61 GPA in Animal Science with a concentration in Science and Pre-Veterinary Agricultural Sciences

Community Service

• 20 hours of community service documented this semester
• Dedicated numerous hours to serving local animal shelters caring for pets without a home
• Boys and Girls Club volunteer in Carbondale

Olivia Janke, Valparaiso, Women's Soccer, RS Junior
Academic Achievements

• Full academic scholarship, Lutheran Leader Scholars
• Dean’s List: Fall 2016, Spring 2017, Fall 2018
• Biology and Chemistry (Pre Med Track), 3.685 GPA

Community Service

• Valparaiso University Women’s Soccer Team - Team Captain - Scholarship Athlete
• TEDxValparaisoUniversity2020 Director of Programming
• Love Your Melon Campus Crew Member -Raise money and awareness for childhood cancer
• Gamma Phi Beta Sorority - Various social and philanthropic events yearly
• Lead on VU Women’s Soccer Team Fundraisers
• Alex’s Lemonade Stand-funds raised in support of childhood cancer
• Nicaragua Youth National Team-funds raised to send the Nicaraguan Youth Soccer Team to Nationals
• VNA Hospice Center Volunteer - Attending to housed hospice patients for company, feeding among other needs as well as running the center’s front desk (2017-Present)
• Ascension Lutheran Church Volunteer-Gary, IN (Oct 2018-Present)
• Dance Marathon Valparaiso University Fundraising Member
• Immanuel Lutheran Church Food Pantry Volunteer (2016-2017)
• Summer Soccer Skills Clinic for girls ages 9-14 (2014-2017)