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 Fall season.
This year’s Fall honorees include Andrew Kovacevic, Bradley, Men's Soccer; Darrin MacLeod, Drake, Men's Soccer; Allie Arguello, Evansville, Women's Soccer; Sara Stankoskey, Illinois State, Women's Soccer; BreeAnn Spangler, Indiana State, Volleyball; Tim Dobrowolski, Loyola, Men's Soccer; Tenaly Smith, Missouri State, Women's Cross Country; Jordan Webb, Northern Iowa, Football; Taylor Pippen, Southern Illinois, Volleyball; Kayla Deighan, Wichita State, Women's Cross Country.
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.
Andrew Kovacevic, Bradley, Men's Soccer, Senior
- 3.96 Cumulative GPA
- Athletic Director's Honor Roll (2012-2015)
- MVC Honor Roll (2012-2015)
- Dean's List (2012-2015)
- Mortar Board National Honor Society, chapter treasurer
- Beta Gamma Sigma International Honor Society
- NCAA Academic All-American nominee (2015)
- Awarded the Dr. John Brewer Athletic and Academic Scholarship
- MVC Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award (2014, 2015)
- MVC Scholar-Athlete First Team
- Volunteered with:
- Engineers without Borders (2012-2015)
- Christian Youth Center (2012-2015)
- Union Boys and Girls Club of Chicago (2015)
- Chicago Sandwich Drive (2015)
- Loaves and Fishes Soup Kitchen, Chicago (2012, 2013)
- Susan G. Komen (2013, 2014)
- Naperville Special Olympics (2012-2014)
Darrin MacLeod, Drake, Men's Soccer, Redshirt Junior
- Health Science major with a minor in psychology
- Presidential List (Spring 2014)
- Dean's List (Fall 2014, Spring 2013)
- Volunteered at:
- Courage League Sports - a non-profit recreational center that works with kids with disabilities
- West Des Moines Soccer Club
- DSMove
Allie Arguello, Evansville, Women's Soccer, Senior
- 3.921 Cumulative GPA
- Biology Student of the Year (three times)
- Dean's List (six times)
- National College Athlete Honor Society Member
- Community Service with (over 150 hours):
- Holy Spirit
- St. Benedict's Elementary School
- Vogel Elementary School
- Evansville Rescue Mission
- Tri-State Food Bank
- Multiple leadership positions in UE SAAC - instrumental in the Toys for Tots initiative
Sara Stankoskey, Illinois State, Women's Soccer, Junior
- 3.77 overall GPA in Exercise Science
- MVC Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award (2013-14, 2014-15)
- AFNI Honor Roll (four semesters)
- Team SAAC representative (2014-15)
- MVC Female SAAC representative (2014-15)
- Volunteered at:
- Recess Buddies participant
- Blair House - played board games with senior citizens
- Metcalf 2015 School Carnival
- Special Education Bowling Helper
- Midwest Food Bank
- Reggie's Kids Club
BreeAnn Spangler, Indiana State, Volleyball, Junior
- 3.98 cumulative GPA
- Indiana State University Honor's Program
- Student Athlete Academic Mentor
- National Student Speech Language Hearing Association member
- Indiana State University Student Athlete Advisory Committee - Vice President
- Volunteered with:
- Terre Haute Boys and Girls Club
- West Vigo Community Center
- Zorah Shrine
- Indiana State Volleyball Camps and Clinics
- Happiness Bag, Inc.
- Catholic Charities (Jam the Bus)
Tim Dobrowolski, Loyola, Men's Soccer, Senior
- Double majoring in Information Systems and Operations Management
- 3.102 GPA
- Community service through:
- Chicago Youth Sports Alliance
- Relay for Life
- Misericordia
- Cycle for Survival
- Student Athlete Advisory Committee (three years)
- Director of External Operations of SAAC (2015-16)
Tenaly Smith, Missouri State, Women's Cross Country, Senior
- Dean's List (Fall 2012, Spring 2013, Fall 2013, Spring 2014, Summer 2015)
- Athletic Director's Honor Roll (Fall 2012, Spring 2013, Fall 2013, Spring 2014, Fall 2014, Spring 2015)
- Maroon & White Scholar-Athlete (2013, 2014, 2015)
- MVC Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award (2013)
- Volunteered at:
- Meals-A-Million
- Boys & Girls Club
- Halloween Fun Run
- Missouri State SAAC
- Missouri State Traditions Council
- Missouri State Student Government Association
Jordan Webb, Northern Iowa, Football, Senior
- Dean's List
- Athletic Director's Honor Roll
- Community Service through:
- Special Olympics (2014)
- UNI Dance Marathon (2013-14)
- River Hills Day Camp (2014)
- Clean Water our Thirsty World (Ethiopia) 7-on-7 Flag Football Tournament (2012)
- Boys and Girls Club meet the UNI Panthers Night
- Just Read! (every semester)
- Junior Panther Day (yearly)
Taylor Pippen, Southern Illinois, Volleyball, Senior
- 3.70 cumulative GPA
- Accounting major
- Dean's List (six semesters)
- MVC Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award (two-time recipient)
- First Team MVC Scholar-Athlete Team (2013, 2014)
- MVC Conference Honor Roll (2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15)
- Boydston Legacy Athletic Endowed Scholarship (two-time recipient)
- Volunteered at:
- Parrish Elementary School Pumpkin Festival
- SIU Athletics Thank-A-Thon
- Carbondale Chamber of Commerce Annual Fundraiser
- Special Olympics Polar Plunge
- Carruthers Elementary School Family Reading Night
- Autism Campaign
- Carbondale New School Fundraiser
- SIU Athletics Kids Night Out
- National Girls and Women in Sport Day
- Women's Basketball Pink Out
Kayla Deighan, Wichita State, Women's Cross Country, Senior
- AD Honor Roll (Fall 2012, Spring 2013, Fall 2013, Spring 2014, Fall 2014, Spring 2015)
- MVC Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award (2013-14)
- MVC Track & Field Scholar-Athlete Team (2015)
- MVC Honor Roll (2014-15)
- MVC Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award (2012-13)
- Prairie Fire Marathon Volunteer
- Volunteer at Holy Cross Lutheran Book Fair