Wednesday, May 3, 2017

In an effort to honor the achievements of exceptional student-athletes, the Missouri Valley Conference has created the State Farm MVC Good Neighbor Award.  Ten student-athletes have been named by Commissioner Doug Elgin as the honorees for the 2016-17 Spring season.

This year’s Spring honorees include Rachel Sudbury, Bradley, Women's Outdoor Track & Field; Brooke Miller, Drake, Women's Golf; Mickaela Fleming, Evansville, Softball; Abby Turczyn, Illinois State, Softball; Abby McBride, Indiana State, Women's Outdoor Track & Field; Kevin White, Loyola, Men's Outdoor Track & Field; Alex Jefferson, Missouri State, Baseball; Brad Walski, Northern Iowa, Men's Outdoor Track & Field; Shaye Harre, Southern Illinois, Softball; Cody Scheck, Wichita State, Men's Outdoor Track & Field.

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 State Farm MVC Good Neighbor Award honorees.

Rachel Sudbury, Bradley, Women's Outdoor Track & Field, Graduate Student

• 3.81 GPA in Business Administration
• Foster College of Business, Management & Leadership Graduate (2016)
• MVC Honor Roll (2014, 2015, 2016)
• MVC Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award (2014, 2015, 2016)
• MVC Scholar-Athlete Team (2014, 2015, 2016)
• Bradley Athletic Director's Honor Roll (2012-16)
• Dean's List (2012-16)
• Management & Leadership Academic Excellence Awards (2016)
• Member of National Honor Society of Leadership and Success (2014-17)
• Bradley SAAC Member (2013-17)
  • President (2016-17)
  • Vice President (2015-16)
  • Secretary (2014-15)
• Nominee for International Honor Society - Beta Gamma Sigma
• Volunteered with:
  • Megan Fong Blood Drive
  • Kids Rock Leader with Richwood's Christian Church
  • Sterling Middle School
  • Illinois Valley Striders Half Marathon
  • Advocates for Access
  • ADA Wheel-a-Thon
  • Community Shoe Drive
  • FastCat Children's Running Series
  • South Africa mission trip with Grace Lutheran Church

Brooke Miller, Drake, Women's Golf, Junior

• Double major in Public Relations and Politics with Marketing minor
• Drake SAAC member (2014-17)
• Drake SAAC Community Outreach Chair (2015-17)
• Public Relations Student Society of America Distinguished Member (2014-17)
• Community Service:
  • Children & Family Urban Movement (CFUM)
  • WHYLD Girls
  • Salvation Army
  • Shoe Drives for Running Wild
  • Central Iowa Shelter & Services
  • Toys 4 Tots
  • Meals from the Heartland
  • Southern California Golf Association Junior Volunteer (2014-17)
  • Drake Political Review Magazine Volunteer Reporter (2016-17)

 Mickaela Fleming, Evansville, Softball, Senior

• 3.609 cumulative GPA
• Dean's List (four semesters)
• 2016 National College Athlete Honor Society (2nd year honoree)
• NFCA All-American Scholar-Athlete (2014-15, 2015-16)
• MVC Honor Roll (2014-15)
• Volunteered with:
  • National Society of Leadership & Success
  • Newman Club
  • Top 20 Student-Athlete for Community Service
  • March of Dimes
  • Holly's House
  • Centre'd on Kids
  • Tri-State Food Bank
  • Gilda's Club
  • Toys 4 Tots
  • Reading with Aces Day

Abby Turczyn, Illinois State, Softball, Junior

• 3.16 cumulative GPA in Business
• AFNI Honor Roll (five semesters)
• Community Service:
  • Team SAAC Representative (2015-16, 2016-17)
  • SAAC Community Service Coordinator (2016-17)
  • Day of Dozier
  • ISU Fan Fair
  • Sheridan Elementary Parade
  • ARC 5k Run
  • Bloomington Holiday Gift Wrapping
  • Painting in Puerto Vallarta
  • Softball Clinic in Puerto Vallarta

Abby McBride, Indiana State, Women's Outdoor Track & Field, Senior

• Dean's List
• Athletic Directors Honor Roll
• Center for Student Success - Honor Scholar
• Scholar-Athlete
• Focus Indiana Scholarship Recipient
• Intern of the Year Nominee
• Granted a Graduate Assistantship in the Academic Enrichment Center (Fall 2017)
• Volunteered with:
  • Special Olympics Summer Games
  • Special Olympics Spring Basketball Tournament
  • Nike Cross Country Meet
  • High School State Cross Country Meet
  • Sold programs for FCA
  • Wrapped Christmas gifts for FCA
  • Collected shoes for "Unholy Soles" with FCA
  • ISU Open Track Meets
  • Boys and Girls Club Bowling Party
  • Miracle on 7th Street - Children's Museum

Kevin White, Loyola, Men's Outdoor Track & Field, Sophomore

• 3.84 GPA in Conservation & Restoration Ecology
• Community Service:
  • High school cross country camp counselor
  • Agape/Ecclesia
  • Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalists

Alex Jefferson, Missouri State, Baseball, Senior

• 3.97 GPA in Accounting
• Dean's List (Fall 2013, Fall 2014, Fall 2015, Fall 2016, Spring 2014, Spring 2015, Spring 2016)
• Athletic Director Honor Roll (Fall 2013, Fall 2014, Fall 2015, Fall 2016, Spring 2014, Spring 2015, Spring 2016)
• Maroon and White Scholar Athlete (2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16)
• Marine Corps Semper FI Leadership Award (2016)
• Finalist for Virgil Cheek Memorial Award (2016-17)
• Multicultural Leadership/Inclusive Excellence Program (2013-17)
• Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (2015-17)
  • Vice President (2016-17)
• Athletics Long Range Planning Committee Student Representative (2015)
• Missouri State President's Diversity Council (2016)
• Community Service:
  • Meals-A-Million (2013-15)
  • FCA House Building (2014-15)
  • FCA Baseball Camps (2014-15)
  • Mentoring High School students (2017)
  • Adopt-A-Street (2015-17)
  • Christmas Adopt-A-Family with Big Brothers/Big Sisters (2015-16)
  • Salvation Army Christmas Cards for Heroes (2014-15)

Brad Walski, Northern Iowa, Men's Outdoor Track & Field, Senior

• 3.34 cumulative GPA
• Dean's List (multiple semesters)
• Graduating in May with Manufacturing Technology: Advanced Manufacturing major
  • Technology Management minor
  • Manufacturing Technology: Manufacturing Design minor
• Volunteered with:
  • Boys and Girls Club
  • Junior Panther Day
  • Panther's Play Program
  • Sold 50/50 tickets 
  • Panther Read events
  • SAAC representative

Shaye Harre, Southern Illinois, Softball, Senior

• 3.91 cumulative GPA
• Animal Science major with concentration in Production Agricultural Science)
• Dean's List (Fall 2013, Spring 2014, Fall 2014, Spring 2015, Fall 2015, Spring 2016, Fall 2016)
• Academic All-American (Second Team)
• MVC Scholar-Athlete First Team (two-time)
• Member of three Top-15 NFCA National Academic Team
• Volunteered with:
  • Saluki Food Pantry Food Drive
  • Parrish Pumpkin Fest
  • Bonfire Ticket Sales
  • Trick or Treat for Canned Goods
  • Veteran's Tailgate
  • Special Olympic Basketball
  • WIN for Life
  • Softball Clinic in Mexico
  • Thank-a-Thon

Cody Scheck, Wichita State, Men's Outdoor Track & Field, Senior

• Wichita State Athletic Director Honor Roll - 3.0 GPA (seven times)
• Shocker Scholar - 3.2 GPA (seven times)
• Wichita State Dean's List (five times)
• MVC Scholar-Athlete Team (two-time)
• MVC Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award
• MVC Honor Roll (three times)
• Community Service:
  • Reading with the Shockers
  • Prairie Farms Marathon
  • Wichita Running Company
  • Via Christi Safe Kids
  • Towne East Back to School Event
  • Special Olympics
  • Shocks, Cops and Kids
  • Freshman Move-In
  • Wesley Medical Center
  • Summer Camp Counselor
  • Shocker Shine at College Hill Elementary