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 2018-19 Spring season.

This year’s Spring honorees include Andrew Shadid, Bradley, Baseball; Grace Dunn, Drake, Women's Golf; McKenzie Johnson, Evansville, Softball; Sydney Laufenberg, Illinois State, Women's Track & Field; Tyler Hamilton Ward, Indiana State, Baseball; Laurel Mertz, Loyola, Women's Track & Field; Mikaela Mosquera, Missouri State, Beach Volleyball; Anne Gradoville, UNI, Women's Golf; Jackie Biggs, Southern Illinois, Women's Golf; Anne Mou, Valparaiso, Women's Track & Field.

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.

Andrew Shadid, Bradley, Baseball, Senior

• 3.52 cumulative GPA in Master of Business Administration
• Received Bachelor of Finance and Minor in Management Information Systems and Management and Leadership
• Bradley SAAC Member
• MVC Scholar-Athlete First Team (2018)
• Bradley COUNTRY Financial Scholar-Athlete of the Week (April 17, 2018)
• MVC Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award (2017)
• MVC Honor Roll (2016, 2017, 2018)
• Bradley University Athletic Director's Honor Roll (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018)
• NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Forum (MVC Representative 2017)
• Community Service:
  • MIS Walk (three years)
  • Megan Fong Blood Drive
  • Braves Club Pre-Game
  • Braves Auction (three years)
  • Soldier Dash 5k Obstacle Course Race
  • Woodrow Wilson School
  • St. Francis Children's Hospital
  • Vs. Cancer (four years)
  • Trash Pickup around Peoria
  • St. Jude Radiothon (two years)
  • Zach McCallister Camp (two years)

Grace Dunn, Drake, Women's Golf, Senior

• 3.34 GPA
• Double Majoring in Marketing and Information Systems with concentrations in Marketing Research & Analytics, Integrated Marketing Communications and Direct & Interactive Marketing 
• Dean's List recipient
• MVC Academic Honor Roll (two-time)
• Community Service:
  • SAAC Representative
  • Community Outreach Committee leader
  • Courage League Sports
  • Meals from the Heartland meal packaging
  • Des Moines Marathon Volunteer
  • Local Des Moines Youth Golf Camps
  • Drake Dance Marathon
  • Kevin Dunn Memorial Golf Outing lead

McKenzie Johnson, Evansville, Softball, Senior

• 3.45 GPA in Exercise Science
• Dean's List (two semesters)
• Community Service:
  • Boo at the Zoo
  • Keep Evansville Beautiful
  • Rotary Club Santa Run
  • Toys for Tots
  • Cardio for Canines
  • Hope 2 All Food Bank
  • Make a Better Christmas packing Christmas gifts

Sydney Laufenberg, Illinois State, Women's Track & Field, Junior

• 3.45 GPA in Food, Nutrition and Dietetics
• Missouri Valley Conference Honor Roll (2016-17, 2017-18)
• Illinois State University Athletics Honor Roll (Fall 2016, Spring 2017, Spring 2018, Fall 2018)
• Community Service:
  • Note taker for Illinois State University Student Access and Accommodation Services (Fall 2018)
  • Illinois State University Nutrition Mission Volunteer (Fall 2018)
  • Salvation Army Safe Harbor (Fall 2018)
  • Illinois State University Fresh Favs Volunteer (Fall 2018)
  • Sports Nutrition Volunteer (Fall 2018)
  • Saint Jude Hospital Marathon Volunteer (Fall 2018)
  • Sheridan Elementary Back to School Parade (Fall 2018)

Tyler Hamilton Ward, Indiana State, Baseball, Senior

• 3.57 GPA 
• Accepted into the Indiana State University Doctorate of Physical Therapy program
• MVC Scholar-Athlete Honorable Mention (2018)
• MVC Scholar-Athlete Spotlight (Spring 2019)
• Indiana State University SAAC (2016-19)
• MVC SAAC (2019)
• Sycamore Leadership Academy (2019)
• Community Service:
  • Diva Dash (2018)
  • Terre Haute North Little League Camps (2015-19)
  • Happiness Bag Bowling (2016)
  • Beasler's Market Athletic Meet and Greet/Donations (2016-19)

Laurel Mertz, Loyola, Women's Track & Field, Senior

• 3.978 cumulative GPA in Psychology & Spanish
• Dean's List (Fall 2015, Spring 2016, Fall 2016, Spring 2017, Fall 2017, Spring 2018, Fall 2018)
• Maroon and Gold Honor Society Member (2018)
• Certificate of Excellence from Modern Languages and Literature Department
• MVC Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award (2016-18)
• Undergraduate Women's Leadership Award
• MVC Academic Honor Roll (three-time)
• Rambler Gold Level Honor Roll (Spring 2016, Fall 2016, Spring 2017, Fall 2017, Fall 2018)
• Community Service:
  • Misericordia Volunteer Waitress
  • Equality Illinois Volunteer
  • Volunteer Research Assistant at Activity Matter Lab

Mikaela Mosquera, Missouri State, Beach Volleyball, Junior

• Dean's List (Fall 2015, Spring 2016, Summer 2016, Fall 2016, Spring 2017, Fall 2017, Spring 2018, Fall 2018)
• Maroon & White Scholar-Athlete (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019)
• MVC Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award (2015-16, 2016-17)
• Dr. Bruce Jonson Scholar-Athlete (2019)
• Community Service:
  • Buddy Bears
  • DKMS Bone Marrow Donor Registration Drive
  • Jordan Creek Nursing Home
  • Night to Shine
  • Salvation Army Bell Ringer
  • Bears Read
  • Boys & Girls Club
  • Isabel's House Snowfest
  • Special Olympics Missouri
  • Greater Ozarks Audubon Society
  • Habitat for Humanity
  • Make-A-Wish Foundation
  • Brownie Bears
  • Global Crafts of the Ozarks
  • Northern Illinois Food Bank

Anne Gradoville, UNI, Women's Golf, Sophomore

• 3.97 GPA
• UNI Honors Program
• Presidential Scholar in the Honors Program
• Dean's List (all semesters)
• Community Service:
  • Year-long service learning project focusing on safety
    • Implemented Active Bystander Training at several businesses and bars nears campus to better protect students
  • Dance Marathon Family Relations Committee Member
  • SAAC Executive Board
  • MLK Day of Service for the Northeast Iowa Food Bank
  • Pen Pal with local elementary school students
  • Junior Panther Night
  • National Student Speech Language and Hearing Association Club events
  • Bible study and service events through St. Stephen's Catholic Church

Jackie Biggs, Southern Illinois, Women's Golf, Graduate Student

• 4.00 GPA
• Honor Roll (all semesters)
• Commissioner's Award (all semesters)
• Southern Illinois SAAC
• Community Service:
  • 30 hours this semester
  • Special Olympics
  • Animal shelters
  • Boys and Girls Club
  • Carbondale Library 
  • Read to kids in elementary schools

Anne Mou, Valparaiso, Women's Track & Field, Senior

• 3.921 cumulative GPA in Valparaiso's physician assistant program
• Dean's List (every semester)
• Presidential Academic Honors for Outstanding Student-Athletes (2017-18)
• Presidential Academic Honors for Outstanding Academic Achievement (2018-19)
• Presidential Scholarship
• Community Service:
  • Service Learning in Health of Central America
  • Coach at Lake Park High School
  • Popcorn Fest
  • Church renovation