In an effort to honor the achievements of exceptional student-athletes, the Missouri Valley Conference has created the State Farm MVC Good Neighbor Award.  Thirty student-athletes have been named by Commissioner Doug Elgin as the honorees for the 2020-21 season.

This year’s nominees include Emma Ehrhardt, Bradley, Cross Country; Alec Hartman, Bradley, Indoor Track & Field, Senior; Sarah Nacos, Bradley, Women's Golf; Antonio Melendez, Drake, Men's Soccer; Hannah Fuller, Drake, Women's Basketball; Ellie Mendlik, Drake, Outdoor Track & Field; Brock Wandel, Evansville, Men's Soccer; Ian Alberts, Evansville, Men's Indoor Track & Field; Caitlin O'Donnell, Evansville, Women's Golf; Natalie Vaughn-Low, Illinois State, Women's Soccer; Paige Saylor, Illinois State, Women's Basketball; Kenize Pence, Illinois State, Softball; Jensen Margheim, Indiana State, Women's Soccer; Caitie Mansker, Indiana State, Swimming & Diving; Kaitlyn Davis, Indiana State, Outdoor Track & Field; Chantz Visse, Loyola, Men's Cross Country; Olivia Orr, Loyola, Women's Indoor Track & Field; Brianna Clifton, Loyola, Softball; Greg Washington, Missouri State, Football; Abby Hipp, Missouri State, Women's Basketball; Madison Hunsaker, Missouri State, Softball; Johnnie Hill, UNI, Women's Soccer; Megan Maahs, UNI, Women's Basketball; Darius King, UNI, Men's Outdoor Track & Field; Jack Colquhoun, Southern Illinois, Football; Kailyn Stone, Southern Illinois, Swimming & Diving; Emilyee McGiles, Southern Illinois, Women's Golf; Tahelah Noel, Valparaiso, Women's Soccer; Chiara Robinson, Valparaiso, Women's Swimming & Diving; Claire Czerwonka, Valparaiso, Women's Tennis.

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 recognizes 30 student-athletes annually.  Institutions select their State Farm MVC Good Neighbor Award honorees.

Emma Ehrhardt, Bradley, Cross Country, Junior

• 3.60 GPA in Nursing
• All-MVC Cross Country Honorable Mention (2020-21)
• MVC Cross Country Scholar-Athlete (2020-21)
• MVC Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award (2020)
• Bradley University Athletic Directors Honor Roll (Fall 2017, Spring 2018, Fall 2018, Fall 2019, Spring 2020, Fall 2020)
• MVC Honor Roll (2018, 2019, 2020)
• Community Service:
  • Crittenton Crisis Center (2018)
  • Hands of Hope Garden Fair (2018)
  • Fast Cats Running Series (2018)
  • Hult Center for Healthy Living in Peoria (2018)
  • Fox Valley Kids Marathon (2018)
  • Geneva Community High School Speaker (2019-20)
  • Bradley University's Annual Fit Fair (2020)
  • 24 miles in 24 hours fundraiser for National Black Justice Coalition
  • Goodwill's Stand Down for Veteran's program (2020)
  • Administered flu shots at Unity Point Methodist Hospital (2020)

Alec Hartman, Bradley, Indoor Track & Field, Senior

• 3.66 GPA in Computer Science with a concentration in Data Science
• USTFCCCA All-Academic Team - Track & Field (2018, 2019)
• MVC Cross Country Scholar-Athlete Team (2018, 2019)
• MVC Track & Field Scholar-Athlete Team (2018, 2019, 2020)
• Bradley Scholar-Athlete of the Week (April 14, 2021 & February 7, 2018)
• MVC Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award (2018, 2020)
• MVC Honor Roll (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020)
• Bradley Athletic Director's Honor Roll (Fall '16, Spring '17, Fall '17, Spring '18, Spring '19, Fall '19, Spring '20, Fall '20)
• Community Service
  • Relay For Life (2016, 2017)
  • Grace Care Center Food Pantry (2019)
  • Collect and Donate Soles4Shoes (2018, 2020)
  • Peoria Half & Full Marathon (2016)
  • OLMC Thanksgiving Breakfast Delivery (2017)
  • Bradley FitFair (2020)
  • Whitteir Elementary (2017)
  • Woodrow Wilson Elementary (2018)

Sarah Nacos, Bradley, Women's Golf, Junior

• 3.81 GPA in Biology
• WGCA All-American Scholar (2019-20)
• MVC Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award (2020)
• MVC Honor Roll (2020)
• Bradley AD Honor Roll (Fall '18, Spring '19, Fall '19, Spring '20, Fall '20)
• Community Service
  • Braves Council/SAAC Chair
  • MVC SAAC Member
  • Intercollegiate Athletics Committee Member
  • Bradley University Blood Drive
  • Bradley Trash Clean Up Crew
  • TeamIMPACT

Antonio Melendez, Drake, Men's Soccer, Junior

• Dean's List
• Community Service:
  • SAAC Representative
  • SAAC President Elect
  • Dance Marathon
  • Wellness Wednesdays - Mental health and well being
  • Meals From the Heartland

Hannah Fuller, Drake, Women's Basketball, Senior

• Dean's List/President's List
• Murphy Cup representative
• Member of Drake AMA and Coke Project
• Community Service:
  • SAAC representative
  • FCA Leadership Team
  • Kairos campus ministries leadership team
  • Yearly team community service (1,000 hours)
  • Meals from the Heartland
  • Habitat for Humanity
  • Boys and Girls Club
  • Elementary school volunteer

Ellie Mendlik, Drake, Outdoor Track & Field, Junior

• President's List
• Dean's List
• Drake Law School 3+3 program
• Community Service:
  • Walnut Creek Triathlon
  • Women in Sports Day
  • Special Olympics Iowa
  • Animal Rescue League
  • APO Service Chapter
  • Sprout Garden Clean-Up
  • Community Track Pick-Up

Brock Wandel, Evansville, Men's Soccer, Sophomore

• 4.00 GPA in Accounting and Management
• Dean's List (3x)
• Community Service:
  • Habitat for Humanity (started a winter snow removal team to raise funds)
  • SAAC Representative
  • Holy Rosary
  • EB Walk
  • Breast Cancer Philanthropy
  • Easter Seals of Evansville
  • USO Bucket Shake

Ian Alberts, Evansville, Men's Indoor Track & Field, Senior

• 4.0 GPA in Biology
• Dean's List (7x)
• MVC Scholar-Athlete
• Community Service:
  • Middle School Cross Country and Track & Field Meets
  • High School Cross Country and Track & Field Meets
  • UE Barn Blitz for Habitat for Humanity
  • Read books to area Evansville elementary schools for the Aces Holiday Reading program

Caitlin O'Donnell, Evansville, Women's Golf, Junior

• 3.636 GPA in Exercise Science
• Dean's List (4x)
• WGCA All-American Scholar-Athlete
• Community Service:
  • Vogel School Tutoring
  • YMCA Mentoring
  • UE Holiday Reading Day
  • SAAC Representative
  • Organized the UE Athletics Diversity and Inclusion campaign
  • Organized the UE Social Justice campaign

Natalie Vaughn-Low, Illinois State, Women's Soccer, Senior

• 3.88 GPA in Exercise Science
• Afni Athletics Honor Roll (every semester Fall 2017-Present)
• MVC Honor Roll (every year, Fall 2017-Present)
• MVC Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award (2018-19, 2019-20)
• MVC Women's Soccer Scholar-Athlete First Team (2019-20)
• Community Service:
  • Recess Buddies
  • Boys and Girls Club
  • Bring it Back to Normal
  • Springfield Special Olympics
  • Evening of the Stars
  • Partners in Reading
  • Gwendolyn Brooks School volunteer
  • 100 Caring Adults
  • Run for Alzheimer's 
  • Animal Shelter
  • ISU Athletics Movie Night
  • Volunteer note taker for Student Access and Accommodation Services for ISU

Paige Saylor, Illinois State, Women's Basketball, Senior

• 3.97 GPA in Biological Sciences/Pre-Med
• Afni Athletics Honor Roll (every semester Fall 2017-Present)
• MVC Honor Roll (every year, Fall 2017-Present)
• MVC Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award (2018-19, 2019-20)
• MVC Women's Basketball Scholar-Athlete Honorable Mention (2020-21)
• Community Service:
  • Susan G. Koman Race for the Cure
  • Children's Holiday Party
  • 100 Caring Adults
  • ISU Bird Bash
  • First Star Academy Volunteer
  • Walk to End Alzheimer's
  • Day of the Dozer
  • Weisbecker Scholarship Fund Event Volunteer
  • Eastern Illinois Food Bank Volunteer
  • Farmers Market Volunteer
  • Jefferson Park Elementary Pen Pal

Kenize Pence, Illinois State, Softball, Junior

• 4.00 GPA in Finance and Accounting
• Afni Athletics Honor Roll (every semester Fall 2018-Present)
• MVC Honor Roll (every year, 2019-Present)
• MVC Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award (2019-20)
• Community Service:
  • Day of the Dozer
  • Illinois State University Curb Birds
  • Humane Society
  • Back to School Welcome, Evans Jr. High
  • 100 Caring Adults
  • Recess Buddies
  • Clearwater, Fla. School Visit - Eisenhower

Jensen Margheim, Indiana State, Women's Soccer, Junior

• 3.98 GPA in Applied Medicine & Rehabilitation with a minor in Spanish & Massage Therapy
• University Honors Scholarship
• Dean's List
• MVC Women's Soccer Scholar-Athlete First Team (2019)
• Sycamore Leadership Academy
• AD Honor Roll (since Fall 2017)
• Community Service: 
  • Executive Board Member - Social Distance Delivery
  • Social Media Director/Donation Chair (group delivers groceries to vulnerable individuals and minority families in DC and Virginia)

Caitie Mansker, Indiana State, Swimming & Diving, Senior

• Graduating Magna Cum Laude - Biology/Honors College
• AD Honor Roll (since Fall 2018)
• Community Service:
  • Marketing chair of Honors Council (organized special events, food drives, outreach to students)
  • Tri-Beta (Biology club)
  • Terre Haute Children's Museum

Kaitlyn Davis, Indiana State, Outdoor Track & Field, Senio

• AD Honor Roll (since Fall 2017)
• Dean's List (7x)
• Indoor Track & Field MVC Scholar-Athlete Team (2020)
• Graduating Summa Cum Laude from the Honors College - Applied Medicine & Rehabilitation/Pre-PT with a minor in Massage Therapy
• Sycamore Leadership Academy
• Presidential Scholar-Athlete Award nominee
• MVC Scholar-Athlete (2020)
• Community Service:
  • Multiple Track meets

Chantz Visse, Loyola, Men's Cross Country, Junior

• Double majoring in Philosophy and Global & International Studies with a minor in Spanish
• Maintained a 3.775 GPA
• Community Service (over 120 hours):
  • Campus Ministries
  • Tutor
  • Retreat leader

Olivia Orr, Loyola, Indoor Track & Field, Junior

• 3.777 GPA in Environmental Policy and Psychology
• Dean's List (every year)
• Community Service:
  • Loyola Student-Athlete Advisory Committee
  • MVC Student-Athlete Advisory Committee
  • Ramblers Alliance for Equity
  • Restoration Club
  • Renewable energy projects in Iceland
  • Children's Hospital (800+ hours)

Brianna Clifton, Loyola, Softball, Junior

• 3.868 GPA in Biology with a minor in Spanish (plans to pursue doctorate in veterinary science)
• Community Service: 
  • Will County Humane Society
  • Tutor K-12 students in Cabrini Green
  • Special Olympics
  • Letters to Elders program

Greg Washington, Missouri State, Football, Sophomore

• Athletic Director's Honor Roll (Spring 2020)
• Community Service:
  • HyVee Healthy Kids Day
  • Bears Read Program
  • Buddy Bears Mentoring Program

Abby Hipp, Missouri State, Women's Basketball, Senior

• MVC Scholar-Athlete Honorable Mention (2021)
• MVC Commissioner's Academic Excellence (2019, 2020)
• MVC Academic Honor Roll (2018, 2019, 2020)
• Lady Bears Academic Excellence Award (2019)
• Dean's List (Fall 2017, Spring 2018, Summer 2018, Fall 2018, Spring 2019, Summer 2019, Fall 2019, Spring 2020, Fall 2020)
• Dr. Bruce Johnson Scholar-Athlete (2021)
• Maroon & White Scholar-Athlete (2018, 2019, 2020, 2021)
• Athletic Director's Honor Roll (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020)
• Community Service:
  • MSU Bear Pantry
  • FCA Women's Night
  • Bears Read
  • Adopt-A-Street
  • Mercy Hospital visits
  • Student-Athlete Advisory Committee

Madison Hunsaker, Missouri State, Softball, Senior

• MVC Honor Roll (2019, 2020, 2021)
• Dean's List (Spring 2018, Summer 2018)
• Dr. Bruce Johnson Scholar-Athlete (2021)
• Maroon & White Scholar-Athlete (2018, 2019, 2020, 2021)
• Athletic Director's Honor Roll (2018, 2019, 2020, 2021)
• Community Service: 
  • Dominican Republic Service Trip
  • Accion Callejera
  • Ministerio de Medio Ambiente
  • Miracle League
  • Ronald McDonald House
  • Vision Rehabilitation Center of the Ozarks
  • Student-Athlete Advisory Council (Executive Board)

Johnnie Hill, UNI, Women's Soccer, Senior

• Dean's List
• Athletic Director's Honor Roll
• MVC Honor Roll
• Community Service:
  • Special Olympics (2020)
  • Northeast Iowa Food Bank
  • YWCA 
  • Program Assistant for Wize Girls
  • Black Hawk Grundy Healthy Mental Health Recovery

Megan Maahs, UNI, Women's Basketball, Senior

• Graduated with a degree in Public Health with a minor in Biology and Gerontology (2020)
• Enrolled in the Master of Business Administration Program
• Dean's List
• Athletic Director's Honor Roll 
• MVC Honor Roll
• MVC Scholar-Athlete Honorable Mention
• Community Service:
  • Northeast Iowa Food Bank
  • Salvation Army
  • MLK Day of Service
  • Jr. Panther Night
  • Peoples Community Health Clinic
    • Director of Quality
    • Peoples Clinic Garden
  • Hoops and Heels Event
  • Western Home Communities
  • Senior Care Center
  • Service and Leadership Council
    • Public Relations Executive
  • Reach Out and Read - Black History Month
  • Western Dubuque Summer Basketball Camps
  • Basketball 101 @ Scheels
  • Ball in the Mall Event
  • Sturgis Falls Half Marathon and Kid Fun Run
  • Make a Wish Foundation Walk
  • Cedar Valley Elementary Mini Basketball Camps

Darius King, UNI, Men's Outdoor Track & Field, Senior

• Dean's List
• Athletic Director's Honor Rolls
• MVC Scholar-Athlete
• MVC Honor Roll
• Community Service:
  • Cedar Valley United Way
  • Boys n Girls Club
  • Pen Pal with local elementary schools
  • Minority Student-Athlete Leadership Team

Jack Colquhoun, Southern Illinois, Football, Graduate Student

• 3.64 GPA in Master of Arts in Economics
• MVFC Honor Roll (2019-20)
• Community Service:
  • Mental Health Coordinator for Saluki Unity-Diversity, Equity and Inclusion group (2020-Present)
  • Run/Walk Charity event to raise money for the Boys & Girls Club of Carbondale (2020)
  • International Student Union, President (2020-Present)
  • Special Olympics (2019)
  • Military Deployment Ceremony (2019)
  • Souperbowl of Hunger (2019)

Kailyn Stone, Southern Illinois, Swimming & Diving, Senior

• 3.88 GPA in Political Science
• MVC Commissioners Academic Award (2019-20)
• Contributed to the 2019-20 United Soccer Coaches Association Academic Award
• SIU Dean's List (2019-20)
• Community Service:
  • SIU SAAC President (2020-21)
  • SAAC Representative (2019-20)
  • Military Deployment Ceremony (2019)
  • Southern Illinois Clean Up Day (2020)
  • Boys & Girls Club Power Hour
  • Football Training Camp
  • Organized Mental Illness Awareness Week (2020)

Emilyee McGiles, Southern Illinois, Women's Golf, Senior

• 3.64 GPA in Exercise Science
• MVC Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award (2019-20)
• MVC Honor Roll (2017-18, 2018-19)
• MVC Women's Golf Scholar-Athlete First Team (2020)
• MVC Women's Golf Scholar-Athlete Honorable Mention (2019)
• Jane Talley Phelps Endowed Academic Scholarship (2019)
• SIU Dean's List (2017-2020)
• Community Service:
  • SIU SAAC Community Service Coordinator (2020-21)
  • SAAC Representative (2019-20)
  • Military Deployment Ceremony (2020)
  • Duck Derby Dash event for Special Olympics (2019)
  • Carbondale Public Library Volunteer (2019-20)
  • SIU Green Action Team (2018)
  • St. Francis Care event (2018)
  • Veterans Hospital visit (2018-19)
  • Read With an Athlete at Unity Point School (2018)

Tahelah Noel, Valparaiso, Women's Soccer, Senior

• Master's of Social Work starting Fall 2021
• MVC Academic Honor Roll
• Community Service:
  • Valpo Care and Rehab
  • Northwest Health Porter
  • Valpo Parks Soccer Camp
  • Buffalo City Mission
  • Mission trip to Costa Rica

Chiara Robinson, Valparaiso, Women's Swimming & Diving, Junior

• 3.687 GPA in Civil Engineering with an Environmental Engineering emphasis
• MVC Scholar-Athlete Team
• MVC Honor Roll
• Dean's List
• Community Service:
  • Student-Athlete Advisory Committee
  • Dance Marathon for Lurie's Children's Hospital
  • Indiana Dunes beautification
  • Valpo Freshman Move-In
  • Working Across Vocations Everywhere through Service
  • Girl Scouts of America
  • Buffalo Ridge Elementary School
  • Thank you letters to workers on the frontlines
  • Valentines Cards to hospitalized children and senior citizens
  • Mission trip to Guatemala

Claire Czerwonka, Valparaiso, Women's Tennis, Senior

• 3.515 cumulative GPA in Nursing
• MVC Scholar-Athlete Spotlight (2021)
• Valpo's Dean's List (3x)
• Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing
• Valpo Presidential Academic Honors Award
• ITA Scholar-Athlete (2019-20)
• Community Service:
  • Student-Athlete Advisory Committee
  • #oneValpo Promise
  • St. Teresa (Cafe Mana)
  • St. Agnus Adult Day Care
  • Boys and Girls Club of Chesterton
  • TradeWinds
  • Valparaiso Nazarene Church
  • Phil's Friends
  • Hilltop Day Care