General

MVC Recognizes "Good Neighbor Award" Recipients

 

In an effort to honor model 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 following the spring semester.

Spring honorees include Breanne Neufeld, Bradley, Women's Golf, Jr.; Betsy Conry, Creighton, Women's Golf, Sr.; Gabriela Demos, Drake, Women's Tennis, So.; Kate Chybowski, Evansville, Women's Tennis, Jr.; Colin Fane, Illinois State, Men's Track & Field, Sr.; Mackenzie Mack, Indiana State, Women's Golf, Sr.; Scott Glenn, Missouri State, Men's Golf, Sr.; Jen Larsen, UNI, Softball, Sr.; Allie Hanson, Southern Illinois, Softball, Sr.; Audacia Moore, Wichita State, Women's Track & Field, So.

Winter honorees include Renee Frericks, Bradley, Women's Basketball, Sr.; Megan Neuvirth, Creighton, Women's Basketball, Sr.; Diedra Dirth, Drake, Indoor Track & Field, Sr.; Amy Gallagher, Evansville, Women's Basketball, Sr.; Amy Werkema, Illinois State, Swimming/Diving, Sr.; Kelsie Cooley, Indiana State, Women's Basketball, Jr.; Will Creekmore, Missouri State, Men's Basketball, Jr.; Jacqui Kalin, UNI, Women's Basketball, So.; Malaikah Love, Southern Illinois, Indoor Track & Field, So.; Marisah Henderson, Wichita State, Women's Basketball, Sr.

Fall honorees include Katie Nowak, Bradley; Claire Zach, Creighton; Mason Bucklin, Drake; Blake Schneider, Evansville; Ruth Zemke, Illinois State; Scott Keeney, Indiana State; Terry Phillips, Missouri State; Chelsie Hochstedler, UNI; Tony Colletti, Southern Illinois; Kim Wadsworth, Wichita State.

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 sponsors 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!"

Breanne Neufeld, Bradley, Women's Golf, Jr.

  • Bradley’s Country Financial Scholar-Athlete of the Week: 9.23.2009, 10.14.2009, 10.28.2009, 4.7.2010
  • Prairie Farms/MVC Scholar-Athlete of the Week: 10.21.2009
  • Athletic Director’s Honor Roll: Fall 2008, Spring 2009, Fall 2009
  • MVC Honor Roll 2008-09 
  • Just Read
  • Buddy with the Braves
  • Braves Council (SAAC)
  •  Bradley Student Advisory Committee
  •  Keepsack’s for Kids (Children’s Home Association of Illinois,
  • Coordinator of RCGA Future Links Jr. Golf Program (2009)

Betsy Conry, Creighton, Women's Golf, Sr.

  • Named to Creighton Dean's List in fall of 2009.
  • Just Read
  • Jays Night Out
  • Holiday Collection for Siena Francis House 
  • Emerging Leaders Development
  • Haiti Relief Collection 
  • Fund the Homeless Collection-Siena Francis House
  • Assists in administrating fitness tests for the youth
  • Volunteer at Avery Elementary School
  • Completed over 70 hours of community service this year.

Gabriela Demos, Drake, Women's Tennis, So.

  • Marketing and Management Major
  • Currently holds a 3.70 cumulative gpa.
  • First-team MVC Scholar-Athlete selection
  • Three-time Dean’s list honoree
  • SAAC representative for the past two years, and currently holds the role of Social Events Chair.
  • Active with the SAAC Talent Show, and helped organize the event with proceeds going to Drake Live Drive, a canned food drive.
  • Volunteered with the women’s tennis team at the Central Iowa Shelter
  • Volunteered at the start line of the Drake Relays Grand Blue Mile, a community race focusing on wellness.
  • Active on campus with Alpha Phi sorority

Kate Chybowski, Evansville, Women's Tennis, Jr.

  • GPA  - 3.935 
  • Biology major, Spanish minor. 
  • Dean’s List (5 consecutive semesters)
  • Student-Athlete Academic Honor Roll (5 consecutive semesters)
  • 2008 & 2008 Intercollegiate Tennis Association Scholar-Athlete
  • 2009 & 2010 Missouri Valley Conference Tennis First Team Scholar-Athlete 
  • 2009 CoSIDA ESPN The Magazine Academic-All District At-Large team
  • An avid cello player, Kate plays the cello weekly at a local church.
  • Kate developed and implemented a weekly after school Spanish program at Dexter Elementary school.  
  • Volunteers weekly at a hospice.
  • Organized numerous concerts at a local nursing home. 
  • Just Read
  • Dr. Seuss Read Across America
  • Race for the Cure
  • JDRF (juvenile diabetes research foundation) walk.
  • Habitat for Humanity
  • Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Representative
  • Toys for Tots

Colin Fane, Illinois State, Men's Track & Field, Sr.

  • Elementary Education – Graduates December 2010
  • AFNI Honor Roll Member
  • MVC Honor Roll Member
  • SAAC Officer 2008-present
  • SAAC Member 2007-present
  • Student Athletic Liaison – Athletic Council
  • State Farm/MVC Just Read Program 
  • Developed and Implemented Recess Buddy Program
  • American Red Cross Evening With the Stars
  • Birds in the Burbs
  • Audubon Society
  • Festival of Trees
  • Discovery Museum – Sibling Play Day
  • Character Counts at Towanda Elementary School

Mackenzie Mack, Indiana State, Women's Golf, Sr.

  • 2006-07 Athletic Director Honor Roll -  Fall and Spring
  • 2006-07 MVC Honor Roll – Fall and Spring
  • 2006-07 National Golf Coaches Association All-American Scholar Team
  • 2007-08 Athletic Director Honor Roll -  Fall and Spring
  • 2007-08 MVC Honor Roll – Fall and Spring
  • 2007-08 National Golf Coaches Association All-American Scholar Team
  • 2008-09 Athletic Director Honor Roll -  Fall and Spring
  • 2008-09 MVC Honor Roll – Fall and Spring
  • 2008-09 National Golf Coaches Association All-American Scholar Team
  • 2008-09 ISU All-Academic Team
  • 2008-09 ISU Presidential Scholar-Athlete of the Year Nomination
  • 2009-10 Athletic Director Honor Roll – Fall
  • 2009-10 MVC Honor Roll – Fall
  • 2009-10 ISU All-Academic Team
  • 2009-10 ISU Presidential Scholar-Athlete of the Year Nomination
  • St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Up ‘til Dawn Campaign
  • SAAC Canned Food Drive for Terre Haute Catholic Charities
  • Started a junior golf program called Tee It Up in Terre Haute which teaches golf to kids 6- 18 (www.teeitup-golf.org)
  •  Financial Management Association Member
  • Member of Beta Gamma Sigma-Scholastic Honorary Association
  • Member of National Society of Collegiate Scholars
  • Member of Beta Gamma Sigma (Honorary Scholastic Association)
  • Helped organize Financial Literacy Conference for Terre Haute Community
  • Help serve food at Light House Mission

Scott Glenn, Missouri State, Men's Golf, Sr.

  • Athletics Director Honor Roll
  • Dean’s List
  • Beta Gamma Sigma International Honor Society Member
  • National Society of Collegiate Scholars
  • 3.76 Cumulative GPA
  • Participated in the following:
  • Missouri Valley Just Read Program
  • Adopt-a-street Program
  • Junior Golf Tee Youth Program
  • Maroon Madness Student Group

Jen Larsen, UNI, Softball, Sr.

  • Dean's List
  • First Team all-MVC Academic
  • Volunteers for:
  • Just Read
  • Relay for Life
  • Jr. Panther Day
  • Special Olympics
  • Northeast iowa Food Pantry
  • Character Counts
  • Member of UNI's SAAC

Allie Hanson, Southern Illinois, Softball, Sr.

  • NFCA Scholar-Athlete, 2008, 2009
  • MVC Commissioners Academic Excellence Award, 2007-2008; 2009-2010
  • MVC Conference Honor Roll, 2006-2007, 2007-2008, 2008-2009, 2009-2010;
  • SIU Dean’s List, 5 semesters
  • SIU Saluki Scholar, 2007-2008, 2008-2009, 2009-2010
  • MVC/State Farm “Just Read”, 2006-2010
  • SASF Thank-A-Thon, 2008-2009, 2009-2010
  • Varsity Club Meeting, 2009
  • SIU Halloween Bash, 2008, 2009; Saluki Kid’s Night Out, 2008, 2009
  • Santa’s Shoebox Party, 2007, 2008, 2009
  • SAAC Talent Show-Benefit for Haiti, 2010; Athletics Canned Food Drive, 2007, 2008
  • Parrish Pumpkinfest, 2007-2009; Parrish Sports Night, 2008-2009

Audacia Moore, Wichita State, Women's Track & Field, So.

  • 3.937 Grade Point Average - Nursing
  • Dean’s Honor Roll – 3 semesters
  • Athletic Director’s Honor – 3 semesters
  • Missouri Valley Conference Student-Athlete Advisory Committee
  • Wichita State University Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Secretary
  • Track & Field Team Captain
  • Shocks, Cops & Kids
  • Missouri Valley Conference “Just Read” Program
  • Humana for Haiti
  • Goddard Intermediate Learning Center/Wichita State Pen Pal Program
  • Woofstock