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 Jeff Jackson as the honorees for the 2021-22 Fall season.
This year’s Fall honorees include Katherine Poore, Bradley, Volleyball; Meghan Brown, Drake, Women's Soccer; Hannah Watkins, Evansville, Volleyball; Ashley Santos, Illinois State, Women's Soccer; Madeline Williams, Indiana State, Volleyball; Abby Swanson, Loyola, Women's Soccer; Lillie Kaempfe, Missouri State, Women's Cross Country; Brawntae Wells, UNI, Football; Kailyn Stone, Southern Illinois, Women's Soccer; Rylee Cookerly, Valparaiso, Volleyball.
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.
Katherine Poore, Bradley, Volleyball, Senior
- 3.43 Cumulative GPA in Political Science (major) and Leadership Studies and Business Law (minor)
- Braves Council Student-Athlete representative (2018-21)
- Bradley Athletic Director Honor Roll (Spring 2020, Fall 2020, Spring 2021)
- Bradley Country Financial Scholar-Athlete of the Week (October 2019)
- MVC Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award (2021)
- Missouri Valley Conference Honor Roll (2018-21)
- Community Service
- Bradley Volleyball Mission Trip to Puerto Rico (2018)
- Bradley University Clean Up Crew
- Heart of Illinois Down Syndrome Association (2018, 2019)
- Lincoln Middle School Birthday Buddy (2018, 2019)
- Loaves and Fish Peoria
- Get Fit Stay Fit Fair (2018, 2019)
- Bradley Student-Athlete Picnic (2021)
- St. Mark School - National Read Across America Day
- Boys and Girls Club of Pekin
- Field Trip Game Volunteer for Bradley Women's Basketball (2019)
Meghan Brown, Drake, Women's Soccer, Junior
- MVC Honor Roll
- Drake University Dean's List
- United Soccer Coaches College Women's Team Academic Award
- Community Service
- Animal Rescue League
- Meals for Heartland
- Blank Children's Hospital
- Lutheran Church of Hope
- SAAC President-Elect at Drake University (2021-22)
Hannah Watkins, Evansville, Volleyball, Junior
- 3.647 Cumulative GPA
- Dean's List (3x)
- MVC Academic Honor Roll
- MVC Scholar-Athlete Honorable Mention
- Community Service
- UE SAAC Representative
- Key leader in Diversity and Inclusion in UE Athletics
- CHEMO Buddies
- Freshman Move-In Day
- YWCA
- Holiday Reading to Area Elementary Schools
- Volleyball Developmental Program
- Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Evansville
- Young & Established Evansville
Ashley Santos, Illinois State, Women's Soccer, Senior
- 4.00 Cumulative GPA in Mathematics/Mathematics Education
- MVC Scholar-Athlete of the Year (2020-21)
- CoSIDA Academic All-District Team (2020-21)
- MVC Scholar-Athlete Team (2019, 2020)
- AFNI Honor Roll (Every semester 2017-present)
- MVC Honor Roll (Every semester 2017-present)
- MVC President's List (Spring 2021)
- MVC Commissioner's List (Fall 2018-Spring 2021)
- Community Service
- Evergreen Senior Living Center
- Boys and Girls Club
- Bingo and Cards Assisted Living
- Bring It Back to Normal Event
- Springfield Special Olympics
- Teamwork Talk and Soccer Skills Assembly Volunteer
- Soccer Clinic
- Movie Night
- Hog Roast
- Alzheimer's Run
- AFNI Dinner
- Play 4 Kay
- Bloomington High School
Madeline Williams, Indiana State, Volleyball, Senior
- 3.59 Cumulative GPA in Marketing
- Athletic Director Honor Roll (every semester)
- Community Service:
Abby Swanson, Loyola, Women's Soccer, Senior
- CoSIDA Academic All-District (2020-21)
- MVC Scholar-Athlete (2020-21)
- MVC Honor Roll (3x)
- Player Award of Distinction from the US Soccer Coaches (2020-21)
- Community Service:
- Public Action to Deliver Shelter (PADS)
- Lakeview Pantry
- Habitat for Humanity
- St. Paul Lutheran Church
- Camp Hope
Lillie Kaempfe, Missouri State, Cross Country, Sophomore
- 3.57 Cumulative GPA
- Dean's List (Spring 2021)
- MVC Honor Roll (2020-21)
- Athletic Director's Honor Roll (Fall 2020, Spring 2021)
- Maroon & White Scholar-Athlete (Spring 2021)
- Community Service:
- GLO Center
- National Guard
- Psychology Club (Fundraising & Volunteer Coordinator)
- ROTC
- Veteran Student Center
Brawntae Wells, Northern Iowa, Football, Senior
- William V. Campbell Trophy Semifinalist
- All-Academic MVFC Second Team Dean's List
- Athletic Director's Honor Roll
- MVFC Honor Roll
- Community Service:
- Youth Mentor through the Juvenile Court Services
- Tomorrow's Leaders/Uplift Foundation, Center of Attention Youth Summer Program
- Tomorrow's Leader's Youth After School Program
- Central Iowa Juvenile Detention
- Minority Student-Athlete Leadership Team
Kailyn Stone, Southern Illinois, Women's Soccer, Senior
- 3.90 Cumulative GPA in Political Science and Languages, Cultures and International Studies
- United Soccer Coaches Team Academic Award (2020, 2021)
- MVC Commissioners Academic Excellence Award (2019-20, 2020-21)
- MVC Good Neighbor Award Winner (Spring 2021)
- SIU Dean's List (2019-20)
- Community Service:
- SIU SAAC President (2020-21)
- SIU SAAC Representative (2019-20)
- Organizing the Green Bandana Project (2021)
- Participated in Military Deployment Ceremony (2019)
- Southern Illinois Clean-Up Day (2020)
- Boys & Girls Club Power Hour
- Saluki Unity Run/Walk for Boys & Girls Club Carbondale (2020)
- Football Training Camp (2020)
- Organized Mental Health Awareness Week (2020)
Rylee Cookerly, Valparaiso, Volleyball, Senior
- 3.96 Cumulative GPA
- MVC Scholar-Athlete of the Year (2020-21)
- MVC First Team Scholar-Athlete (3x)
- CoSIDA Second Team Academic All-America (2x)
- Community Service:
- Hilltop Neighborhood Food House
- Cafe Manna
- Valparaiso SAAC