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 2011 fall season.

This year’s fall honorees include Shelby Cron, Evansville, Women’s Cross Country, Jr.; Bryan Hoie, Creighton, Men’s Soccer, Sr.; Samantha Shukla, Wichita State, Women’s Cross Country, So.; Anna Stinson, Illinois State, Women’s Soccer, So.; Michael Lahart, Drake, Football, Sr.; Ashley Mason, Missouri State, Volleyball, RSo.; Lauren Blumhorst, Southern Illinois, Volleyball, Sr.; Taylor Hancock, Indiana State, Women’s Soccer, Jr.; Genevieve Dejean, Bradley, Volleyball, Sr.; Benjamin Boothby, Northern Iowa, Football, Sr.

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!"

 

Shelby Cron, Evansville, Women’s Cross Country, Jr.

• 3.62 cumulative GPA
• Dean’s List (2 semesters)
• Received 2010-11 SAAC Top Ten Award for Community Service with 60.75 hours
• Student-Athlete Coordinator for the Just Read Program, 3 years
• Read Across America
• Two year member of the SAAC Board
• Aces of Hearts/Monster Mash – Kid’s Night Out Programs
• Volunteered with Toys for Tots, Red Ribbon Week, Ronald McDonald House Trick-for-Cans program,
• Tri-State Food Pantry canned food drive, Relay for Life, National Make A Difference Day at Assisted Living Complex, Habitat for Humanity, Race for the Cure, Build A Bear Project for Soldier

Bryan Hoie, Creighton, Men’s Soccer, Sr.

• Fall Dean’s List-2008
• Spring Dean’s List-2010
• MVC Honor Roll 2008-2011
• DJ’s Hero Award Winner
• Completed over 180 hours of community service this past year
• Volunteers at Camp Coholo a Childrens Cancer Sports Camp, Soccer Clinics, Siena Francis Collection, Just Read and children with cancer events.

Samantha Shukla, Wichita State, Women’s Cross Country, So.

• 3.739 GPA
• Dean’s List (2 semesters)
• Athletic Director’s Honor Roll (2 semesters)
• Goddard Intermediate Learning Center Pen Pal Program
• Wichita Prairie Fire Marathon Volunteer
• Shocks, Cops and Kids
• Wichita State University Trunk or Treat
• Lady Bugg House Volunteer

Anna Stinson, Illinois State, Women’s Soccer, So.

• Cumulative 4.0 GPA
• Recess Buddies-plays with kids at  local elementary schools at recess
• Just Read-reads book at local elementary schools
• Home Sweet Home-organized donations
• Children’s Discovery Museum-helped with special events
• Fellowship of Christian Athletes-goes to local schools and speaks to high school athletes
• Midwest Food Bank-organizes food donations

Michael Lahart, Drake, Football, Sr.

• 3.89 GPA
• President’s List (4.00) – 4 semesters
• Dean’s list (3.50 or above) – 4 semesters
• Rho Chi Society (Top 20% of Pharmacy class)
• National Football Foundation National Scholar-Athlete Awards Candidate/William V. Campbell Trophy semi-finalist
• Capital One Academic All-America All-District VI.
• PFL Fall Academic Honor Roll (4 years).
• Internship at Hy-Vee Pharmacy
• Participated in Global Kilimanjaro Bowl in May 2011, including providing football camps to youth in Tanzania and completing work at an orphanage.
• Elementary school reading program.
• Ronald McDonald house clean-up.
• Unified Sports Day with Iowa Special Olympics

Ashley Mason, Missouri State, Volleyball, RSo.

• Cumulative 3.92 GPA
• Dean’s List every semester at MSU (Fall 2009 – current)
• Tutoring through the A+ program
• Volunteer coach at the YMCA and youth clinics
• Volunteered to help pack groceries for Ozarks Food Harvest
• Participated in walk for Breast Cancer awareness
• Participated in Adopt-a-Street Program
• SAAC team representative
• MVC Just Read program
• Assisted with Joplin Tornado Relief Effort

Lauren Blumhorst, Southern Illinois, Volleyball, Sr.

• Cumulative 3.873 GPA
• Dean’s List (4 semesters)
• Saluki Scholars, 2008-2009
• MVC Scholar-Athlete Honorable Mention 2009, 2010
• MVC Scholar-Athlete of the Week (November 16, 2009)
• Student Athlete Advisory Committee Member
• Parrish Elementary School Sports Night/ Pumpkin Fest
• SIU Athletics Santa’s Shoebox
• MVC/State Farm “Just Read”
• SIU Athletics Halloween Bash, SIU Athletics “Thank A Thon”, SIU Athletics Talent Show
• Trick or Treat for Canned Goods
• Visits to Boys and Girls Club
• Assisted volleyball team with raising $900 for “Race for the Cure”;
• Collected toiletries to donate to local women’s shelter

Taylor Hancock, Indiana State, Women’s Soccer, Jr.

• Athletic Department Honor Roll- Fall 2009, Spring 2010, Fall 2011, Spring 2011
• MVC Honor Roll- Fall 2009
• ISU Scholar-Athlete- Spring 2011
• Terre Haute Humane Society
• Terre Haute Catholic Charities Food Bank
• Wabash Valley Race for the Cure                             
• Susan G. Koman Foundation
• Toys for Tots
• Zorah Temple Shriners of Terre Haute
• Ryves Hall Youth Center
• Special Olympics

Genevieve Dejean, Bradley, Volleyball, Sr.

• “Billy” Stone Athletic Scholarship, 2010-2011, 2011-2012;
• Arthur Ashe Sports-Scholar Award, 2011-2012
• Academic excellence and community activism
• Garrett-Provost Scholarship, 2008-Present; Dean’s Scholarship, 2008-Present
• Academic High-Honor Roll, 2008-Present, Student-Athletes with 3.2 GPA or greater
• Dean’s List (4 semesters), 3.5 or greater GPA
• Study Abroad in Madrid, Spain, May-term 2011
• President, Sigma Iota Rho, National Honors Society for International Relations, 2011-2012
• Megan Fong Blood Drive, Fall 2011
• Megan Fong Blood Drive and Bone Marrow Drive, Spring
• Congressman Aaron Schock’s Annual Summer Reading Program Event, October 23, 2011 “Souls4Soles” donation campaign at Bradley University, Fall
• “Just Read” program Fall 2010, Spring 2011, Fall 2011
• Community Outreach: Bradley Athletics’ program, August 8, 2011
• “Lil’ Braves Clinics”, Fall 2011, Fall 2010, Spring 2010, Fall 2009
• Congressman Aaron Schock’s Annual High School Mailing, August 2
• MVC Partnership with Special Olympics, July 2010
• Service Project: Disaster Relief for Haiti, February 2010
• Peoria Park District (PPD) participation in 2010 Earth Day, April 2010
• “Picking up Peoria”, February/April 2009

Benjamin Boothby, Northern Iowa, Football, Sr.

• Graduated Magna Cum Laude- May 2011 (3.88 cumulative GPA, Movement & Exercise Science, Pre-Med)
• Pursuing Master of Arts: Physical Education: Kinesiology Emphasis
• Dean’s List
• Second team Academic All-American (2010); First Team Academic All-Conference (2010); All-District Academic First Team (2009/2010); All-Conference Academic Second Team (2009)
• UNI McNair Scholar
• Waterloo East Wrestling Coach, Fall 2007
• Special Olympics, Spring 2008-2011
• Kick-Off for Kids Camp Instructor, Spring 2008-2011
• Prairie Lakes Church Youth Instructor, Fall 2009-Spring 2010
• House of Hope, Fall 2009 & Summer 2010
• UNI Rally in the Valley, Spring 2008-2011
• MVC Just Read!, Spring 2010 & Fall 2010
• Junior Panther Day, Spring 2009 & Spring 2011
• Football Small Group Leader, Fall 2010-Present
• Peer Mentor, Spring 2011-Present
• Vineyard Church Youth Instructor, Fall 2010-Present
• Youth Spiritual Speaker, Summer 2009- Present
• Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) Leadership Board, Fall 2007-present
• Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) Representative, 2007 & 2008