General

MVC Announces State Farm Good Neighbor Winter Awards

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 winter season.

This year’s winter honorees include Charonn Woods, Bradley, Men's Basketball, Sr.; Matthew Dorwart, Creighton, Men's Basketball, Sr.; Sarah Yeager, Drake, Women's Indoor Track, Jr.; Colt Ryan, Evansville, Men's Basketball, Jr.; Jeanette Nolte, Illinois State, Swimming & Diving, Jr.; Andrea Rademacher, Indiana State, Women's Basketball, Jr.; Christiana Shorter, Missouri State, Women's Basketball, Jr.; Chelsea Hartman, Northern Iowa, Swimming & Diving, Sr.; Harry Whitt, Southern Illinois, Men's Basketball, Fr.; Jaclyn Abrahamian, Wichita State, Women's Indoor Track & Field, So.

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!"

Charonn Woods, Bradley, Men's Basketball, Sr.

  • Cumulative 4.0 GPA in Health Science
  • 3-time Dean's List Fall Semester (2008-09, '09-10, '10-11)
  • 2-time Dean's List Spring Semester (2008-09, '09-10)
  • 2009-10 Wakapa Chapter Mortar Board Honor Society Nominee
  • 3-time Romeo B. Garret Pride in Education Award (2008-09, '09-10, '10-11)
  • 2009-10 MVC Honor Roll
  • 2011 MVC Scholar-Athlete Honorable Mention
  • 2010 NABC Honor's Court
  • Bradley AD Honor Roll (Fall '09, Spring '10, Fall '10)
  • Chi Alpha Sigma National College AThlete Honor Society, Illinois Kappa Chapter Inductee: 2011
  • Methodist Medical Center Holiday Visits (Fall 2009 & '10)
  • Methodist Medical Center Childcare Visit (Spring 2010)
  • Just Read Participant
  • Initiated "Soles for Souls" Shoe Donation Drive (2011) as a member of Braves Council
  • 2009-12 Braves Council/Student Athlete Advisory Council

Mathew Dorwart, Creighton, Men's Basketball, Sr.

  • Dean's Honor Roll (Spring 2010)
  • 2011 National Association of Basketball Coaches Honor Court
  • 2011 MVC Academic Honor Roll
  • Made award winning documentary in Uganda, Africa (Summer 2011)
  • Abide Network-House cleanup
  • Freshman move-in volunteer
  • Nursing home and hospital visits
  • Just Read Participant
  • Ted E. Bear Hollow Walk
  • Community and youth activities
Sarah Yeager, Drake, Women's Indoor Track, Jr.
  • Drake Presidential scholarship recipient
  • 2010-11 MVC Academic Honor Roll
  • Research internship at Iowa Methodist Medical Center
  • NCAA Leadership Conference participant
  • Drake Student-Athlete Advisory Council (Co-President)
  • Meal from the Heartland volunteer
  • Blankets for Bulldogs (youth activity where they tied blankets for Iowa Homeless Youth Centers)
  • Blank's Children's Hosptial Vonuteer
  • Intercollegiate Athletics Council Member
  • Fellowship of Christian Athletes
Colt Ryan, Evansville, Men's Basketball, Jr.
  • Cummulative 3.31 GPA in Accounting
  • Dean's List Fall 2011 
  • Dean't List Spring 2011
  • Race for the Cure
  • UE Move in Day
  • Special Olympics
  • Shriner's Fest
  • MDA Telethon
  • Southwestern Indiana Regional Council on Aging
  • Just Read Participant
  • YMCA Children's Clinic
  • Multiple Sclerosis Walk
Jeanette Nolte, Illinois State, Swimming & Diving, Jr.
  • 3.06 Cumulative GPA
  • Honor Roll (3 semesters)
  • Logged 34 community service hours this year
  • Best Buddies participant (Paired with young adults with special needs)
  • Just Read participant
  • Recess Buddies participant
Andrea Rademacher, Indiana State, Women's Basketball, Jr.
  • Dean's List (5 semesters)
  • MVC Academic Honor Roll (2009-10, '10-11)
  • MVC commissioner's Academic Excellence Award (2010-11)
  • INS All-Academic Team (2011)
  • INS Scholar-Athlete (2010-11)
  • INS Athletic Director's Honor Roll (Fall '09, Spring '10, Fall '10, Spring '11, Fall '11)
  • INS Business Professionals of America (2009-10, 2010-11)
  • Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society (initiated 2010)
  • University Honors Program
  • 2010-11 Brenda Howell Spirit Award
  • Student Athlete Advisory Committee Representative (Secretary)
  • INS Athlete's TAlent Show (Chair)
  • Terre Haute Boys and Girls Club/SAAC National Student-Athlete Day Event
  • "Pass the Bucket" Fundraising for the Ryves Hall Youth Center
  • "Jam the Bus" canned food collection
  • DistinXion (a Zeller family program)
  • Terre Haute Children's Museum "Night at the Museum"
  • Indiana Special Olympics State Basketball Tournament
  • Susan G. Komen for the Cure Wabash Valley
  • Nonprofit Leadership Alliance (INS student club; Professional Development Committee
Christiana Shorter, Missouri State, Women's Basketball, Jr.
  • Athletics Director Honor Roll (Fall 2009, Spring '10, Spring '11, Fall '11)
  • Prairie Farms MVC Scholar-Athlete of the Week (January 27, 2011)
  • MVC Just Read Program Participant
  • Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (Women's Basketball Representative)
  • Champions for Kids Program Participant
  • Adopt-a-Street Program Particpant
Chelsea Hartman, Northern Iowa, Swimming & Diving, Sr.
  • Dean's List (Spring 2011)
  • Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (3 years)
  • Co-Vice President of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (2011-12)
  • SAAC Junior Panther Day (4 years, Team Leader in 2011)
  • SAAC Senior Banquet (Team Leader in 2011)
  • National Girls and Women in Sports Day (2008-12)
  • SAAC Girl Scout Pen Pals program
  • "Change for Change" fundraiser for Seeds of Hope Violence Prevention Center (Raised $800 in 2011)
  • Speaker and volunteer at Panther Scholarship Club events - "Rally in the Valley" volunteer (2008-12)
  • Mentor for Special Olympics (2008-12)
  • Director of Public Relations for the 2011-12 Dance Marathon that benefited the Children's Miracle Network
  • Phone donation volunteer for the KWWL Variety of Iowa Telethon
  • 2012 Relay for Life
  • Organized the Breast Cancer Awareness Swim Meet in 2011

Harry Whitt, Southern Illinois, Men's Basketball, Fr.
  • 4.00 GPA
  • Student Athlete Advisory Committee (Men's Basketball Representative)
  • Attucks Park Family Fun Festival (Summer 2011)
  • Men's Basketball Holiday Clinic (Fall 2011)
  • Spearheaded the team's effort to bring toys to disadvantaged children during the holiday season (Fall 2011)
  • University Mall Public Appearance to interact with fans and collect toys for the Marine Corps (Fall 2011)
  • Natalies Toy Drive Volunteer - Collected toys for kids battling cancer at Cardinal Glennon Hospital (Spring 2012)
Jaclyn Abrahamian, Women's Indoor Track & Field, Wichita State, So.
  • 3.754 GPA
  • Dean's List (3 semesters)
  • Athletic Director's Honor Roll (3 semesters)
  • Wichita "Prairie Fire" Marathon Volunteer
  • Center for Health & Wellness - Speaking to youth
  • Read Across America at Pleasant Valley Elementary School
  • Walk-A-Thon at Allen Elementary
  • Breakfast with Kids
  • Feed the Homeless at Open Door Ministries
  • Meet the Teacher Night at Greiffenstein Alternative School
  • Laying Bricks at Veteran's Memorial
  • Trunk or Treat
  • Run for Life at Price Harris Elementary
  • Fuel Up to Play Speaking at Jardine Middle School
  • Wrap Gifts for Wichita Children's Home