Friday, May 6, 2016

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 2015-16 Spring season.

This year’s Spring honorees include Bobby Jacobs, Bradley, Men's Golf; Kayla Bell, Drake, Outdoor Track & Field; Rachel Marchi, Evansville, Women's Golf; Sarah Paulson, Illinois State, Women's Tennis; Abigail Malchow, Indiana State, Softball; Ashley Rogers, Loyola, Softball; Caroline Boone, Missouri State, Women's Golf; Samantha Olson, UNI, Softball; Hanna Netisingha, Southern Illinois, Women's Golf; Bailey Bahner, Wichita State, 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.

Bobby Jacobs, Bradley, Men's Golf, Junior

• 4.00 Cumulative GPA in Civil Engineering
• Dean's List (2013-2015)
• Athletic Director's Honor Roll (2013-2015)
• MVC Honor Roll (2014 & 2015)
• MVC Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award (2014-2015)
• MVC Honorable Mention Scholar-Athlete (2014-2015)
• Bradley SAAC Member (2014-2106)
• Chi Epsilon National Honor Society, chapter Vice President
• Recipient of the AJGA Robert Carter Scholarship Award
• Volunteered at:
  • Children's Home Association of Illinois Fundraiser
  • Morton Pumpkin Festival
  • Boys and Girls Club After School Program
  • Bradley University Bridge-Pal Program
  • Crittenton Crisis Nursery Festival of Trees
  • Valparaiso Turkey Trot
  • Megan Fong Blood Drive
  • Peoria Riverfront Museum Engineering Day
  • Sterling Middle School

Kayla Bell, Drake, Outdoor Track & Field, Senior

• 2015 Outstanding junior in Psychology
• 2015 Psi Chi (Psychology Honors Society)
• 2016 Outstanding senior in Psychology
• 2015 MVC Track & Field Scholar-Athlete Team
• 2016 MVC Elite 18 Award winner
• 2015 NCAA All-Academic Women's Track & Field Team
• Community Service at:
  • Ruby Van Meter School
  • Coalition of Black Students Academic Liaison
  • Stand for the Silent (Chapter Liaison)
  • Children and Family Urban Movement
  • Sex Trafficking Awareness Event

Rachel Marchi, Evansville, Women's Golf, Senior

• 3.610 Cumulative GPA in Public Health
• Dean's List (seven times)
• 65 Community Service Hours at:
  • Vogel Elementary School
  • Holy Spirit Elementary School
  • Hebron Elementary School
• Volunteered for:
  • Toys for Tots Initiative
  • Tri-State Food Bank
  • March on Main with the Evansville Sports Corp.
• Participated in:
  • Project Linus - helped make blankets for foster home children
  • Race for the Cure 
  • Team SAAC representative

Sarah Paulson, Illinois State, Women's Tennis, Senior

• 3.71 Cumulative GPA
• AFNI Honor Roll (2013, 2015)
• MVC Honor Roll (2013, 2015)
• MVC Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award (2013, 2015)
• Community Service:
  • SAAC Committee Representative (2015/16)
  • Recess Buddies
  • Blair House Senior Living Facility
  • Sheridan Parade
  • Oakdale Elementary Family Night
  • Glenn Elementary Fall Festival
  • Glenn Elementary Pen Pals
  • Festival of Trees

Abigail Malchow, Indiana State, Softball, Senior

• All Academic Team (2015, 2016)
• Scholar Athlete (2014, 2015, 2016)
• Graduating with Magna Cum Laude Honors (GPA 3.88)
• Missouri Valley Conference President's Academic Excellence Award
• Athletic Director's Honor Roll (2012-16)
• Volunteer at Ryves Hall Youth Center
• Camp Instructor at Indiana State Softball Camps
• Participant in Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure
• Raised money for Boys & Girls Club of Terre Haute and Susan G. Komen Foundation
• Member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes and their volunteer services
• Student Athlete Advisory Committee member 

Ashley Rogers, Loyola, Softball, Senior

• Illinois Lincoln Academy Student Laureate (2015) - awarded to one student from each university in the state of Illinois
• Three time NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete
• MVC Scholar-Athlete Team (two time, once as First Team)
• Dean's List student (every semester)
• Member of Maroon and Gold Leadership Society - 25 members of Loyola senior class invited for their commitment to academics, leadership, service and betterment of the University
• Representative on Alumni Executive Board that connects LU alumni with current students
• Freshman retreat leader
• Volunteered with:
  • Misericordia Heart of Mercy
  • Breast Cancer Walk
  • Special Olympics 
  • University of Chicago Hospital
  • MacNeal Hospital

Caroline Boone, Missouri State, Women's Golf, Junior

• Athletic Director's Honor Roll (Fall 2012, Spring 2013, Fall 2013, Spring 2014, Fall 2014, Spring 2015)
• Maroon and White Scholar-Athlete (Spring 2013, Spring 2014, Spring 2015, Spring 2016)
• Dean's List (Spring 2015)
• MVC Honor Roll (2013, 2015)
• Community Service with:
  • Mercy Hospital Pediatric Floor and Jane Pitt Pediatric Cancer Floor (2012-15, 130+ hours)
  • Cox Hospital on Pediatric Floor (2014-15)
  • Salvation Army - rang bells for Christmas Donations (2012-15)
  • Ronald McDonald House (2012, 2015, 2016)
  • Ozark Food Harvest - packaged food for the needy (2012-13, 2015)
  • Meals a Million - packaged meals for foreign countries (2012-14)
  • Assisted the Director for Children's Junior Golf Program through Crowley's Ridge Country Club (2013-2014)
  • Cross Country Arts Council Summer Golf Tournament (2014)

Samantha Olson, UNI, Softball, Senior

• 3.52 Cumulative GPA
• MVC All-Academic Scholar Award (2013-2015)
• Out of State Scholar Award (2012-2016)
• Volunteered at:
  • Northeast Iowa Food Bank
  • Special Olympics
  • Prince of Peace Garage Sale
  • Foster Care Christmas
  • Harvesters Food Pantry
  • Savers
  • Bremwood
  • Uplift
  • Meals on Wheels
  • Panther Reading Program
  • National Girls and Women in Sports Day
  • Junior Panthers Day

Hanna Netisingha, Southern Illinois, Women's Golf, Sophomore

• 3.643 Cumulative GPA
• Dean's List (two semesters)
• MVC Honor Roll
• MVC Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award
• SIU Diane Daugherty Women's Golf Team Scholarship
• Community Service with:
  • Little Black Dress to benefit Women's Center
  • SIU Athletics Trick or Treat for Canned Goods
  • SIU Athletics Veterans Tailgate
  • Trick or Treat at University Mall
  • Marine Corps Toys for Tots
  • St. Francis Animal Care 
  • Women's Center Taste of Chocolate 
  • Thomas Elementary School Activity Day
  • Parrish Elementary Pumpkin Festival
  • St. Jude Up Til Dawn
  • Carruthers Elementary School reading
  • Valiant Player visit to Memorial Hospital
  • 710 Bookstore Halloween Team Store

Bailey Bahner, Wichita State, Outdoor Track & Field, Junior

• Craig Macy Endowed Scholarship in Philosophy (Fall 2016)
• Sedgwick County Scholar (Spring 2013-2015)
• University Leader Scholarship (Spring 2013-2015)
• WSU Gore Core Winner (Spring 2013)
• AD Honor Roll (Fall 2013, Spring 2014, Spring 2015, Fall 2015)
• MVC Academic Honor Roll (2014, 2015)
• Community Service with:
  • Wichita Envision Group - art club, frequent volunteer
  • Wichita Via Christi - volunteer with elderly
  • Wichita Retired Veterans - made cards for veterans
  • The Lord's Diner - WSU Community Service Board "Wednesday's at the Diner"
  • Prairie Fire Marathon (Fall 2013, Fall 2014, Fall 2015)
  • First Gear's Monster Dash 5K (Fall 2015)