In an effort to honor the achievements of exceptional student-athletes, the Missouri Valley Conference has created the MVC Leadership & Service Award (formerly the Good Neighbor Award).  Ten student-athletes have been named by Commissioner Doug Elgin as the honorees for the 2013-14 Spring season.

This year’s Spring honorees include Kendall Duffy, Bradley, Softball; Jeffrey Foreman, Drake, Men's Outdoor Track & Field; Quinn Vilneff, Evansville, Men's Golf; Kelly McShea, Illinois State University, Women's Outdoor Track & Field; McCall Christopher, Indiana State, Women's Golf; Mary Whitmore, Loyola, Women's Outdoor Track & Field; Eric Straub, Missouri State, Men's Golf; Jamie Fisher, Northern Iowa, Softball; Anita Lee, Southern Illinois, Women's Tennis; Montse Blasco Fernandez, Wichita State, Women's Tennis.

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 MVC Leadership & Service Award honorees.

Kendall Duffy, Bradley, Softball, Sophomore

• Bradley AD Honor Roll (Fall 2012, Spring 2013, Fall 2013)
• Rally for Lily supporter
• Service on Saturday volunteer
• Festival of Trees volunteer
• Undy 500 Colon Cancer Walk
• Cleaned debris and wreckage to help the Washington community recover from the November 17 tornado
• Organized and packed groceries for members of the Peoria Community

Jeffrey Foreman, Drake, Men's Outdoor Track & Field, Junior

• Marketing major with an Information Systems concentration
• Presidential Scholar
• Drake shoe drive coordinator to benefit Soles4Souls (2013, 2014)
• Drake Athletics food drive coordinator (2013)
• Central Iowa Shelter and Services volunteer (2013)
• Seeds of Success (2013-14)
• Honors Summit speaker (2013)
• Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (2012-present)
• SAAC Community Service Chair (2013-14)
• Fellowship of Christian Athletes Leadership Team (2013)
• Just Between Friends (2014)

Quinn Vilneff, Evansville, Men's Golf, Senior

• Academic All-American
• Academic All-Conference
• GPA of 3.91 in Sports Management
• Elite 18 Recipient
• Vogel Elementary School Reading Program
• NCAA Division II Men's Basketball Tournament volunteer
• Susan G. Komen, Race for the Cure
• Swonder Ice Rink - 160 hours of volunteer work over the past year to teach and promote youth hockey and fitness
• Evansville ARC - working with disabled children
• Project Linus - creating blankets for different agencies

Kelly McShea, Illinois State, Women's Outdoor Track & Field, Junior

• Cumulative 3.45 GPA
• Honor Roll (Spring 2012, Fall 2012, Spring 2013, Fall 2013)
• Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Representative
• Illinois State University, Department of Athletics Leadership Academy
• Missouri Valley Conference Representative-Elect
• Recess Buddies volunteer
• Trick or Treat for Canned Goods
• Pen Pal Meet and Greet
• Easter Seals
• Uno with the Elderly
• Bowling with Special Education
• Prairieland Family Fitness Fair
• Red Cross Evening with the Stars

McCall Christopher, Indiana State, Women's Golf, Senior

• Dean's List (seven consecutive semesters)
• Women's Golf Coach's Association Academic All-American (three year selection)
• Athletic Director's Honor Roll (seven semesters)
• MVC Commissioner Academic Excellence Award (three years)
• St. Ann Physical Therapy clinic (Free Health Care provider)
• ISU Junior Golf Summer Camp volunteer
• Lighthouse Missions Soup Kitchen
• Helping Hands volunteer for disaster clean up in Joplin, Mo. (Summer 2012)
• Special Olympics (2013)
• Lifeline Sponsor Child Support (2011-present)

Mary Whitmore, Loyola, Women's Outdoor Track & Field, Senior

• GPA of 3.22 in Biology
• Student-Athlete Advisory Committee member (four years)
• SAAC Executive Board (current) - currently coordinating SAAC efforts to work with Relay for Life
• Global Brigades - currently leading shoe/toothbrush drive
• UNICEF chapter member
• Christmas on Campus volunteer

Eric Straub, Missouri State, Men's Golf, Senior

• Athletic Director's Honor Roll (Fall 2009, Spring 2010, Fall 2010, Spring 2011, Fall 2011, Fall 2012, Spring 2013, Fall 2013)
• Maroon & White Scholar-Athlete (Spring 2011, Spring 2012, Spring 2013, Spring 2014)
• Dean's List (Fall 2010, Fall 2012, Fall 2013)
• Miles for Myles 5K
• Adopt-a-Street clean up
• Unite to Read reading at York Elementary
• Ozarks Food Harvest Fall
• Junior Golf Instructor at the Country Club of Paducah
• Boys and Girls Club
• Junior Golf First Tee Clinic in Little Rock, Arkansas
• Joplin clean up
• Champion Athletes
• Junior Golf Clinic at Twin Oaks CC
• Meals-a-Million
• Hygiene Hijacks
• MVC SAAC Representative (2011-2014)

Jamie Fisher, Northern Iowa, Softball, Senior

• 3.67 GPA
• Dean's List (five semesters)
• Missouri Valley Conference Elite 18 Award (2013)
• First team MVC Scholar-Athlete Team (2012)
• SAAC Softball Representative (2011-present)
• Volunteer at Camp Courageous: Respite Weekend
• Volunteer at New Aldaya Nursing Home
• Special Olympics - Bowling, Basketball and Soccer
• Assistant Youth Coach
• Bremwood Residential Treatment Center - Girls Mentor
• Volunteer at River Hills School with Adaptive P.E. teacher
• North East Iowa Food Bank volunteer
• Girl Scouts Guest Speaker
• SAAC Junior Panther Day
• National Girls and Women in Sports Day
• Panther Reading Program

Anita Lee, Southern Illinois, Women's Tennis, Senior

• 3.785 cumulative GPA
• Graduating with Magna Cum Laude honors
• Dean's List (four semesters)
• First-Team MVC Scholar-Athlete (2011-12, 2012-13)
• MVC Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award (2011-12, 2012-13)
• MVC Conference Honor Roll (2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13)
• Recipient of the Dr. Charlotte West Endowed Scholarship (2013-14)
• Recipient of the Judy Auld Women's Tennis Endowed Scholarship (2011-12)
• Recipient of the William Wittman Endowed Scholarship for Athletics (2011-12)
• Valiant Player
• Parrish Pumpkin Fest
• Every Dawg Has Its Day
• SIU Athletics Thank-A-Thon
• National Girls and Women in Sport Day speaker
• Morris Library Book Sale
• Giant City Family Fun Night
• SIU Athletics Kids Night Out
• Natalie's Toy Drive
• Boys and Girls Club Carnival
• St. Francis Animal Shelter
• SIU Athletics Program sellers
• SIU Athletics Talent Show

Montse Blasco Fernandez, Wichita State University, Women's Tennis, Senior

• 3.761 GPA
• Athletic Director's Honor Roll (Spring 2011, Fall 2011, Spring 2012, Fall 2012, Spring 2013, Fall 2013)
• Dean's List (Fall 2011, Fall 2012, Spring 2013)
• Academic Commendation (Spring 2011)
• Shocker Scholar (Spring 2011, Fall 2011, Spring 2012, Fall 2012, Spring 2013, Fall 2013)
• Reading at Jefferson Elementary (2014)
• Volunteer at Botanica "Illuminations" (2011, 2013)
• Service at Ronald McDonald House (2013)
• Volunteer at Prairie Fire Marathon (2013)
• Food storage at Kansas Food Bank (2013)
• Mentoring at Cloud Elementary (Fall 2013-Spring 2014)
• Packaging meals at Lord's Diner (2013)
• Raised canned goods for WSU "Can Wars" (2011)