In an effort to honor the achievements of exceptional student-athletes, the Missouri Valley Conference has created the MVC Leadership & Service Award (formerly the Good Neighbor Award).  Ten student-athletes have been named by Commissioner Doug Elgin as the honorees for the 2012-13 winter season.

This year’s winter honorees include Michelle Young, Bradley, Women's Basketball, Sophomore; Ally Jensen, Creighton, Women's Basketball, Senior; Cara Lutes, Drake, Women's Basketball, Sophomore; Taylor Ware, Evansville, Women's Basketball, Senior; Cecilia Holmes, Illinois State, Swimming & Diving, Sophomore; Rachael Johnson, Indiana State, Indoor Track & Field, Junior; Jared Roberts, Missouri State, Men's Swimming & Diving, Junior; Riley Banach, UNI, Wrestling, Junior; Melissa Larocque, Southern Illinois, Women's Swimming & Diving, Senior; Chynna Turner, Wichita State, Women's Basketball, Senior.

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 MVC Leadership & Service Award honorees.

Michelle Young, Bradley, Women's Basketball, Sophomore

• Athletic Director's Honor Roll (Fall 2011, Spring 2012, Fall 2012)
• Dean's List (Fall 2011, Spring 2012, Fall 2012)
• MVC Honor Roll (Fall 2011, Spring 2012, Fall 2012)
• SAAC Women's Basketball representative
• 2012 WALK MS Peoria participant
• Pen-Pal Program with 3rd grade class at Rankin Elementary School
• 2012 & 2013 Student-Athlete Day Planning Committee
• 2012-13 Ethnic & Diversity Athletics Committee Member
• Student-athlete representative at Bradley University Board of Trustees meeting

Ally Jensen, Creighton, Women's Basketball, Senior

• 2012-13 MVC Scholar-Athlete of the Week (Jan. 8)
• 2011-12 MVC Scholar-Athlete Honorable Mention
• 2011-12 National Academic All-Jesuit Women's Basketball Team
• Dean's List (2010-11 & 2011-12)
• Friends of Jaclyn
• Abide Network
• Siena Francis House
• Boy Scouts volunteer
• Make-A-Wish Foundation
• Hope Center for Kids
• Omaha Area School Visits
• Together Inc. volunteer
• Bluejay Jamboree volunteer

Cara Lutes, Drake, Women's Basketball, Sophomore

• Student-Athlete 3.0 Recognition (Fall '11, Spring '12, Fall '12)
• Dean's 4.0 List (Spring '12, Fall '12)
• Women's Basketball Team Community Service Coordinator
• Boys and Girls Club volunteer
• Girl Scout volunteer
• Volunteer work with InterVarsity at Salvation Army
• Fellowship of Christian Athletes of Western Iowa Facebook page coordinator/volunteer
• FCA Student Leader
• Seeds of Success (Middle school outreach)

Taylor Ware, Evansville, Women's Basketball, Senior

• 3.725 GPA in Mechanical Engineering
• Dean's List (five consecutive terms)
• Athletic Honor Roll
• Academic Excellence Recognition Breakfast Invitee
• Missouri Valley Honor Roll (2009-10, 2010-11)
• James M. Hall, Jr. Outstanding Engineering Student Scholarship Award
• 2012 MVC Women's Basketball Scholar Athlete - Second Team
• 2011-12 Member of the UE Student Launch Initiative Rocket Team
• Susan G Komen Race for the Cure (four years)
• United Way Day of Caring (four years)
• Main Street Trick or Treat (four years)
• SAAC Monster Mash (three years)
• Mesker Park Zoo - Boo at the Zoo (two years)
• Riley's Children Hospital
• Habitat for Humanity - Women's Build
• Family Day in the Park
• Family Fun Night
• Adopt a Family
• Hebron school Walk-a-thon (two years)
• Lincoln Elementary School mentoring program
• Just Read Program
• Dogs N Suds Event
• YMCA 15K Run/Walk
• Lose the Training Wheels Program with children

Cecilia Holmes, Illinois State, Women's Swimming & Diving, Sophomore

• 3.10 GPA
• Honor Roll (Fall '11, Spring '12)
• College Swim Coaches Association of America Scholar-Athlete Team
• SAAC Representative (2012-13)
• Diversity Advocacy
• Recess Buddies
• Reggie Fun Zone
• SAAC Trick or Treat
• Hudson Family Reading Night
• Taste of Redbirds
• Special Olympics
• Habitat for Humanity
• Diversity Advocacy Kick Off

Rachael Johnson, Indiana State, Indiana State, Junior

• Majoring in Business - Financial Services
• Athletic Director Honor Roll
• Alpha Lambda Delta National Honor Society Member
• Dean's List
• SAAC Vice President
• MVC Female SAAC Representative
• Race for the Cure participant
• NCAA Division III Cross Country Championship Special Olympics Event
• Indiana Special Olympics
• Vigo County School Corporation Backpack Program - Appointed Section Leader
• Terre Haute Women's Club Pack the Bus Program - Appointed Section Leader
• Habitat for Humanity - Coordinated talent show
• Catholic Charities - helped collect more than 16,000 pounds of canned goods
• March of Dimes - Grant writer for and assisted in the planning and execution of Sycamore Parents Night Out
• Ryves Hall Youth Center - Raised funds at numerous Indiana State University sporting events
• Indiana State University Athletics Academic Enrichment Center Student Assistant

Jared Roberts, Missouri State, Men's Swimming & Diving, Junior

• Athletic Director's Honor Roll (Fall '10, Spring '11, Fall '11, Spring '12, Fall '12)
• Missouri State Dean's List (Fall '11)
• Mid-American Conference Academic All-MAC Team 2012
• Meals-A-Million Volunteer
• Salvation Army Bell Ringer
• Halloween in the Halls Volunteer
• Ozark Food Harvest Volunteer
• Student Athlete Advisory Council - Secretary/Treasurer
• Student Government Association - Senator
• Civic Advancement Committee in the Student Government

Riley Banach, UNI, Wrestling, Junior

• Athletics Director Honor Roll (Fall '10, Spring '11, Fall '11)
• Western Wrestling Conference Coaches Honor Roll (2010-11, 2011-12)
• Fellowship of Christian Athletes member since 2009 
• FCA Event Leader (Fall 2012-present)
• Boys and Girls Club volunteer
• USA Wrestling tournament and camp volunteer
• Waterloo Grout Museum volunteer
• UNI Junior Panther Day volunteer
• Bike and Helmet Day at Irving Elementary School
• Irving Elementary School Counseling Group Mentor
• UNI Wrestling Camp coach and mentor

Melissa Larocque, Southern Illinois, Women's Swimming & Diving, Senior

• 3.748 GPA in Elementary Education
• Women's Swimming SAAC Representative
• Dean's List (five semesters)
• MVC Honor Roll (2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12)
• MVC Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award (2010-11)
• MVC Scholar-Athlete Team (2010-11, 2011-12)
• Co-Community Service Chair for SAAC (2013)
• MVC/State Farm "Just Read" Participant (2010, 2011)
• Parrish Elementary School Pumpkin Festival (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012)
• SIU Santa's Shoeboxes (2010, 2011, 2012)
• Cairo Upward Bound (2010)
• Giant City Elementary Family Fun Night (2011)
• March of Dimes (2011)
• Doc Spackman Triathlon (2011)
• Relay for Life (2011)
• SIU Athletics Thank-A-Thon (2012)
• Valient Player Hospital Visitor (2012, 2013)
• American Heart Association Car Wash (2012)
• Natalie's Toy Drive (2012, 2013)
• Holiday Adopt A Family (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012)

Chynna Turner, Wichita State, Women's Basketball, Senior

• 3.446 GPA in Sport Management
• Dean's List (three semesters)
• Shocker Scholar (four semesters)
• Athletic Director's Honor Roll (seven semesters)
• MVC Scholar-Athlete of the Week (1/2/12 and 1/15/12)
• MVC Scholar-Athlete (2010-11, 2011-12)
• SASO Student-Athlete of the Game (Feb. 2011 and Jan. 2012)
• MVC Just Read Program (April 2011, October 2012)
• Shocks, Cops and Kids (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012)
• Susan G Komen Race for the Cure Volunteer (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012)
• Allen Elementary WAlk-A-Thon (April 2012)
• WSU Athletics Pen Pal Program (2009-2011)
• Lord's Diner volunteer (November 2009)
• Kansas Humane Society Woofstock volunteer (2009)
• Lynette Woodard Recreation Camp (2009)