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 Winter season.
This year’s Winter nominees include Gabrielle Haack, Bradley, Women's Basketball; Mykaela Cole, Drake, Women's Indoor Track & Field; Sarah Poltrack, Evansville, Women's Indoor Track & Field; Matt Chastain, Illinois State, Men's Basketball; Bronson Kessinger, Indiana State, Men's Basketball; Molly Reighard, Loyola, Women's Indoor Track & Field; Taylor Beadle, Missouri State, Women's Swimming & Diving; Justin Dahl, UNI, Men's Basketball; Caitlyn Claussen, Southern Illinois, Women's Basketball; Maddie Wilson, Valparaiso, Women's Swimming & Diving.
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.
Gabrielle Haack, Bradley, Women's Basketball, Junior
- 3.76 GPA in Elementary Education with ESL Endorsement
- First Team All-MVC (2018-19)
- Second Team MVC Scholar-Athlete (2018-19)
- MVC All-Freshman Team (2017-18)
- MVC Player of the Week (three-time)
- Bradley COUNTRY Financial Scholar-Athlete of the Week (three-time)
- MVC Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award (2019)
- MVC Honor Roll (2018, 19)
- Bradley University's Dean's List (Fall 2017, Spring 2018, Fall 208, Spring 2019)
- NCAA Starting 5 (January 27)
- Community Service
- Harrison Primary School
- Peoria High Basketball Camp
- Girls Light Our World
- Go Green Litter Pick Up
- St. Jude's Miracle Walk
- Peoria Holiday Shop and Stroll
- Ronald McDonald House
- Children's Home
- Kick Abuse at Kickapoo Walk/5K
Mykaela Cole, Drake, Women's Indoor Track & Field, Senior
- 3.57 GPA in Finance with a minor in Economics and a Concentration in Leadership Development and Human Resource Management
- Dean's List
- MVC Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award
- MVC Honor Roll
- Community Service:
- Galway Autism Partnership Service-Learning Volunteer (2019-present)
- Ronald McDonald House Relief Manager (2018-19)
- Children & Families of Iowa Student Volunteer (2018)
- Coordinated Volunteer Science Center of Iowa STEM Hub (2017)
- Meals from the Heartland, Iowa Food Bank
Sarah Poltrack, Evansville, Women's Track & Field, Junior
- 4.00 GPA in Public Health, Pre-Physical Therapy
- Dean's List (five semesters)
- Faculty Senate Athletic Committee student representative
- SAAC Member
- Community Service:
- Harlaxton Ambassador (two years)
- VA Medical Center Volunteer
- Habitat for Humanity Barn Blitz Volunteer
- UE Holiday Reading to area primary schools
- Evansville area Cross Country and Track & Field Events
Matt Chastain, Illinois State, Men's Basketball, Redshirt Junior
- Majoring in B.S/M.P.A. - Professional Accountancy
- MVC Honor Roll (2017-18, 2018-19)
- AFNI Student-Athlete Honor Roll (Spring 2018, Fall 2018, Spring 2019, Fall 2019)
- Community Service:
- Walk a Mile in Her Shoes
- "Choose to Shine" Down Syndrome Fashion Show
- YMCA Kick-Off
- WSF Thank-A-Thon
- Day of Dozier Volunteer
- 100 Caring Adults
- Sheridan Welcome Back Parade
- First Star Academy
- Free Basketball Clinic
- Community Kids Holiday Part
- Central Illinois Down Syndrome Organization (CIDSO) Buddy Walk
Bronson Kessinger, Indiana State, Men's Basketball, Redshirt Senior
- 3.04 GPA in Business Administration
- Community Service:
- Tour de Komen Bike Race
- Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure
- Sugar Grove Elementary School
- St. Benedict's Soup Kitchen
- Hamilton Center Diversity Walk
- SAAC Representative
- YMCA Youth Rising Stars Basketball Camp
Molly Reighard, Loyola, Women's Indoor Track & Field, Junior
- 3.78 cumulative GPA in Exercise Science
- LUC Mentors
- Community Service (over 100 hours):
- Lurie's Childrens Hospital
- Misericordia Heart of Mercy
- Chicago Marathon
- Sarah's Circle
- National Girls and Women in Sports clinic coach
Taylor Beadle, Missouri State, Swimming & Diving, Junior
- MVC Scholar-Athlete Team (2019)
- Dean's List (Spring 2018, Fall 2018, Spring 2019, Fall 2019)
- Maroon & White Scholar-Athlete (2018, 2019, 2020)
- Athletic Director's Honor Roll (Fall 2017, Spring 2018, Fall 2018, Spring 2019, Fall 2019)
- Community Service:
- Buddy Bears
- Bear Mentor
- Convoy of Hope
- Springfield Community Park and Recreational Center Clean-Up Days
- Victory Mission
- Ozarks Food Harvest
Justin Dahl, UNI, Men's Basketball, Senior
- Dean's List (four semesters)
- Athletic Director's Honor Roll (seven semesters)
- Community Service:
- Adopt-a-Panther
- Boys and Girls Club
- Jr. Panther Night
- Panther Reading Program
- MLK Day of Service
Caitlyn Claussen, Southern Illinois, Women's Basketball, Grad Student
- 4.00 GPA while getting her MBA
- Dean's List (Fall 2016, Spring 2017, Fall 2017, Spring 2018, Fall 2018, Spring 2019)
- Key contributor on a team that finished 11th in the nation (WBCA) in 2019 with a 3.621 GPA
- Community Service (almost 100 hours):
- Boys and Girls Club of Carbondale
- Trick or Treat Canned Food Drive
- Carterville Elementary Pen Pals
- Valiant Player at the Marion VA Medical Center
- The United Way - Holiday Helping Hands
Maddie Wilson, Valparaiso, Swimming & Diving, Junior
- Member of SAAC
- Community Service:
- Cafe Mana (2017-present)
- Hilltop Soup Dinner (2018-present)
- Tutoring with Hilltop (2018-present)
- Aurora Humane Society
- Holy Angels Food Pantry
- Valpo Day of Caring (2018-present)
- Dance Marathon (2018-present)
- Valparaiso's Popcorn Festival Traffic Control
- Freshman Move-In Day Helper
- Valparaiso Nazarene Church After School Camp
- Lutheran Basketball Tournament at Valpo
- Boys and Girls Club
- Feed My Starving Children
- National Student-Athlete Day