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 2012-13 spring season.

This year’s spring honorees include Ashton Kalhorn, Bradley, Men's Tennis, Junior; Sammy Snygg, Creighton, Softball, Senior; Conor Wells, Drake, Men's Track & Field, Sophomore; Kelly Lamarche, Evansville, Women's Golf, Sophomore; Nichelle Harrison, Illinois State, Softball, Junior; Devin Moore, Indiana State, Baseball, Senior; Kimsue Grant, Missouri State, Women's Track & Field, Senior; Samantha Cameron, UNI, Women's Track & Field, Senior; Lucas Cherry, Southern Illinois, Men's Track & Field, Senior; Melanie Jaegers, Wichita State, Softball, Sophomore.

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.

Ashton Kalhorn, Bradley, Men's Tennis, Junior

• Maintains a 4.0 GPA
• Dean's List (Fall 2010, Spring '11, Fall '11, Spring '12, Fall '12)
• MVC Honor Roll (Fall 2010, Spring '11, Fall '11, Spring '12, Fall '12)
• Athletic Director's Honor Roll (Fall 2010, Spring '11, Fall '11, Spring '12, Fall '12)
• Played and organized two charity piano concerts for Easter Seals (raised over $2,400)
• OSF Emergency Room volunteer on Saturday evenings
• Former SAAC Men's Tennis Representative
• Just Read volunteer
• Bradley Athletics Student-Athlete Day volunteer

Sammy Snygg, Creighton, Softball, Senior

• 3.837 cumulative GPA in Exercise Science
• 2012 MVC Scholar-Athlete of the Week (April 11)
• Omaha Police Department's annual Cops and Bobbers volunteer
• Salvation Army volunteer
• UNMC Child Life Program volunteer
• Sports for Kids Auction volunteer
• Pass the Bucket volunteer
• Family Fun Festival volunteer
• Muscular Dystrophy Association volunteer

Conor Wells, Drake, Men's Track & Field, Sophomore

• President's List (Fall 2011, Fall '12)
• Dean's List (Spring 2012)
• SAAC Community Outreach Committee Chair
• Penny War and Adopt-a-Family programs coordinator
• Best Buddies Drake Chapter volunteer
• Events coordinator and future vice president of the Best Buddies Drake Chapter
• Capital Pursuit Road race volunteer (2012 & 2013)

Kelly Lamarche, Evansville, Women's Golf, Sophomore

• 4.0 cumulative GPA in Biology, Professional
• Dean's List (Fall 2011, Spring '12, Fall '12)
• Race for the Cure volunteer
• Holly's House volunteer
• Adopt-A-Highway volunteer
• Warrick County Humane Society volunteer
• Aces of Hearts volunteer
• Hebron Elementary reading program
• Mesker Park Zoo - Boo at the Zoo program
• Tri-State Food Bank volunteer
• Relay for Life volunteer 
• Lodge Elementary reading program
• Vogel Elementary reading program
• Holy Spirit Elementary reading program
• Monster Mash volunteer
• Aid Research volunteer
• SAAC Canned Food Drive volunteer
• Local Thrift Store painting volunteer
• Trick or Eat project with Greek Organization volunteer

Nichelle Harrison, Illinois State, Softball, Junior

• 3.91 cumulative GPA
• Honor Roll (Fall 2009, Spring '10, Fall '10, Spring '11, Fall '11, Spring '12, Fall '12)
• Illinois State University Scholar
• Presidential Scholar
• Illinois State SAAC member
• MVC SAAC representative
• Salvation Army bell ringer
• Christmas for Kids event (sponsored by the Mclean County Chamber of Commerce)
• Participated in a family reading night with the local school district

Devin Moore, Indiana State, Baseball, Senior

• Pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Business (Marketing Management major)
• Indiana State University Dean's List
• Indiana State University Honor Roll
• Indiana State University Scholar-Athlete
• Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society
• Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society
• MVC Scholar-Athlete of the Week
• Mentor for student-athletes
• Tutor for student-athletes
• Career Athletes intern
• Lead and organized an Indiana State University clothing drive
• Designed a floor plan for the Lighthouse Mission
• Creating a feasibility study for Mental Health Association's sheltered workplace
• The Community Table Charities volunteer
• Girl Scouts of America
• Career Development Center volunteer
• Goose Poop Run volunteer
• Designing surveys for Terre Foods Cooperative
• Creating an Integrated Marketing Communications plan for Starbase Indy
• CAPS analysis for Boys and Girls Club

Kimsue Grant, Missouri State, Women's Track & Field, Senior

• MVC Scholar-Athlete Team (2011-12)
• Missouri State Athletics Director's Honor Roll (2011-12, 2012-13)
• Dean's List (five semesters)
• Friends Against Hunger-Meals a Million packing event volunteer
• Relay for Life volunteer
• Volunteered at the Springfield Women's Shelter
• The Kitchen volunteer (a soup kitchen)
• Boys and Girls Town of Missouri volunteer
• Boys and Girls Club
• Champions Committed to Kids member
• Kathy Collins Spirit Award recipient

Samantha Cameron, UNI, Women's Track & Field, Senior

• 3.53 cumulative GPA in Physical Education Teaching
• Dean's List (five semesters)
• All-MVC Indoor Track (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013)
• All-MVC Outdoor Track (2011, 2012)
• MVC Scholar-Athlete Team (2011, 2012)
• Women's Track & Field SAAC representative (since 2010)
• SAAC 2013 Co-Vice President
• Organized and facilitated many community service projects involving UNI student-athletes
• Organized the "Gold Game" program - promoting sportsmanship and support amongst UNI athletics teams
• Conducted educational activities for the residents at Western Retirement Home
• Special Olympics volunteer
• Boys and Girls Club volunteer - promoted good attitudes and hard work through sports
• Mississippi Valley Track Club mentor
• Junior Panther Day - mentored elementary aged children in track events
• Soles 4 Souls - collected donated shoes for those in need
• Hoover Elementary Special Education Classroom volunteer
• Northeast Iowa Food Bank volunteer
• Red Cross volunteer - updated office information and prepared for upcoming events

Lucas Cherry, Southern Illinois, Men's Track & Field, Senior

• 1st Team Capital One Academic All-District Award
• MVC President's Council Academic Excellence Award
• Two-time MVC Elite 18 Award 
• Two-time MVC Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award
• Three-Time MVC Honor Roll
• MVC Scholar-Athlete (two-time Outdoor Track & Field, once Cross Country)
• Dean's List (all semesters)
• SIU College of Business Outstanding Senior of the Year
• SIU College of Business Outstanding Junior & Senior of Accountancy
• Deloitte & Touche LLP Outstanding Junior in Accounting Award
• Emeritus & Annuitant Scholarship
• SIU Credit Union Scholarship
• SIU Provost Scholarship
• Psychology 102 "Outstanding Achievement" (top 5% out of 758 students)
• Phi Kappa Phi Scholarship
• Ranked in top 1% of intermediate accounting
• Victory Dream Center volunteer (2011-Present)
• International Missions (2002-2012)
• Bridging the Gap Guest Speaker (2010)
• MVC/State Farm "Just Read" (2010-2012)
• Storm Recovery Program volunteer (2010)
• Habitat for Humanity-Alternative Spring Break participant (2012)
• Parrish Elementary School Carnival Night volunteer (2009-2012)
• Fellowship of Christian Athletes Event Speaker & Camp Counselor (2009-2012)
• Reality Youth Center Youth Leader (2009-Present)
• SIU Student-Athlete Talent Show (2012, 2013)
• Parrish Pumpkin Festival volunteer (2010)
• Carruthers Elementary Family Reading Night volunteer (2011)

Melanie Jaegers, Wichita State, Softball, Sophomore

• 3.782 GPA in Exercise Science
• Dean's List (three semesters)
• Athletic Director's Honor Roll (three semesters)
• Pen Pal Program with Maize Elementary School participant
• SWIPE Out Hunger volunteer
• MVC "Just Read" Program volunteer with L'Ouverture Elementary
• Rainbows United "Pictures with Santa" volunteer
• Shockers Helping Hands - Habitat for Humanity volunteer
• Salvation Army Bell Ringing