In an effort to honor the achievements of exceptional student-athletes, the Missouri Valley Conference, in partnership with State Farm, has created the MVC State Farm Good Neighbor Award.  Ten student-athletes have been named by Commissioner Doug Elgin as the honorees for the 2012 spring season.

This year’s spring honorees include Mariah Cole, Bradley, Softball, Soph.; Becca Changstrom, Creighton, Softball, Soph.; Gabi Demos, Drake, Women's Tennis, Sr.; Kelsey Costales, Evansville, Women's Tennis, Soph.; Hannah Esker, Illinois State, Women's Tennis, Sr.; Lindsay Beisser, Indiana State, Softball, Sr.; Emily Beaver, Missouri State, Women's Track & Field, Jr.; Jarred Herring, Northern Iowa, Men's Track & Field, Sr.; Thomas Heffernan, Southern Illinois, Men's Track & Field, Jr.; Courtney Reinke, Wichita State, Women's Track & Field, Jr.

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 Good Neighbor Award honorees.

State Farm Insurance is a long-time sponsor of the Missouri Valley Conference and serves as title sponsor for all 18 MVC championship events. Also, State Farm is a prominent sponsor of the league's television network and a sponsor of the Missouri Valley Conference's community outreach program, "Just Read!"

Mariah Cole, Bradley, Softball, Sophomore

• Health Science Major with a 4.00 GPA
• MVC Honor Roll
• Dean's List (Fall 2010, Spring 2011, Fall 2011)
• Bradley Athletic Director's Honor Roll (Fall 2010, Spring 2011, Fall 2011)
• Julie Fundraiser
• Trinity Food Pantry
• Big Brother Big Sister Halloween Party
• NCAA Leadership Forum - Made blankets for the less fortunate
• MVC Just Read Participant
• Student-Athlete Day
• Breast Cancer Awareness
• Festival of Trees
• Megan Fong Blood Drive
• BU Dance Party Clean Up
• Loaves and Fish
• Fundraiser for Kelly
• Carl Grose Service Award

Becca Changstrom, Creighton, Softball, Sophomore

• Biology and Chemistry Majors with a 3.810 GPA
• Dean's List (Fall 2010, Spring 2011, Fall 2011)
• Children's Art Museum
• Sports for Kids Benefit
• Southwood Lutheran Church
• Salvation Army Bell Ringing
• Wells Fargo Family Festival
• North Omaha Police Prescient Cops and Bobbers Event
• Jays Helping the Homeless
• Christmas Eve Usher
• Softball League Volunteer
• Muscular Dystrophy Association Event
• Special Olympics Softball Umpire

Gabriela Demos, Drake, Women's Tennis, Senior

• Marketing Major (Law & Business Concentration) witha  3.80 GPA
• Scholar-Athlete First Team (2009-10, 2010-11)
• Drake Athletics Marketing and Promotions Intern
• Management Trainee Summer Intern at Enterprise Rent-A-Car
• Alpha Phi Social Sorority
• American Marketing Association
• Co-President of Drake SAAC
• MVC SAAC Representative
• Meals from the Heartland Volunteer
• Blankets from Bulldogs (youth activity - tied blankets for Iowa Homeless Youth Centers)
• Organized SAAC Toys for Tots Collection

Kelsey Costales, Evansville, Women's Tennis, Sophomore

• Communications/Public Relations Major with a 3.3 GPA
• Dean's List (Fall 2011)
• SAAC Representative
• Relay For Life - UE Student-Athlete Coordinator
• SAAC Cookbook Organizer
• Toys for Tots
• Just Read Participant
• Haynie's Corner Art Festival
• Habitat for Humanity
• United Way

Hannah Esker, Illinois State, Women's Tennis, Senior

• Actuarial Science Major with a 4.00 GPA
• Nomianted for the Bone Scholar Award (highest academic award at Illinois State)
• Recess Buddies (go to local elementary schools to interact with students at recess)
• Just Read Participant
• Home Sweet Home Missions

Lindsey Beisser, Indiana State, Softball, Senior

• Athletic Directors Honor Roll (Fall 2008, Spring 2009, Spring 2010)
• MVC Honor Roll (Spring 2009)
• MVC Pitcher of the Week (March 5, April 16)
• Special Olympics
• Ryves Hall
• Terre Haute Catholic Charities
• Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure
• Toys for Tots
• Take Back the Night
• Terre Haute Boys and Girls Club
• Terre Haute Light House Mission
• Casey Crafts

Emily Beaver, Missouri State, Women's Track & Field, Junior

• 4.00 Cumulative GPA
• Dean's List (Fall 2009, Spring 2010, Fall 2010, Spring 2011, Fall 2011)
• Athletics Director Honor Roll (2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12)
• Maroon & White Scholar Athlete (Spring 2011, Spring 2012)
• MVC Scholar-Athlete Team (Track & Field - 2011, Cross Country - 2010, 2011)
• MVC Elite 18 Winner for Cross Country (2011)
• MVC Just Read Participant 
• Adopt-a-Street Participant
• Field Day Champion Athletes of the Ozarks
• Springfield Habitat for Humanity

Jarred Herring, Northern Iowa, Men's Track & Field, Senior

• Dean's List (5 semesters)
• 3.63 Cumulative GPA
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Iowa Mentor for 11 year old boy
• Black Hawk County Boys and Girls Club Volunteer
• Kenya Mission Trip to help the men of the Community
• Prairie Lakes Church Welcome Team Volunteer
• Leads Large and Small Group Bible Study

Thomas Heffernan, Southern Illinois, Men's Track & Field, Junior

• 3.831 Cumulative GPA
• Dean's List (6 consecutive semesters)
• Student Athlete Advisory Committee Treasurer (3 year member)
• Family Reading Night at Carrurthers Elementary School (Spring 2012)
• Natalie's Toy Drive (SAAC and Saluki Athletics donates over 2,000 toys for Natalie and her toy drive at Cardinal Glenon Hospital in St. Louis - Spring 2012)
• Directed the Third Annual SIU SAAC Talent Show - raise money for local Boys and Girls Club of Carbondale (Spring 2012)
• Read Across America Day at Carrurthers Elementary School (Spring 2012)

Courtney Reinke, Wichita State, Women's Track & Field, Junior

• Social Work Major with a 3.53 GPA
• Dean's Honor Roll (4 semesters)
• AD's Honor Roll (5 semesters)
• Muscular Dystrophy Association
• Rakeya's Place
• A Home for Girls
• Front Porch Alliance
• Covenant Presbyterian Church Youth Group
• Eastmister Presbyterian Church Fall Retreat Sponsor
• Star Family
• GoZones
• Brotherhood Presbyterian Summer Camp
• FUSE Retreat
• Shocks, Cops & Kids
• Pen Pal Program with Goddard Intermediate Learning Center
• Prairie Fire Marathon
• Village Voices Choir Tour
• Village Voices Choir Lockin
• Church On the Street