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 2022 Spring season.
This year’s Spring honorees include Connor O'Brien, Bradley, Baseball; Pur Biel, Drake, Men's Track and Field; Mackenzie McFeron, Evansville, Softball; Rachel Hickey, Illinois State, Women's Track and Field; Cassandra Thomerson, Indiana State, Softball; Lorenza Martinez, Loyola, Women's Golf; Calandra Henry, Missouri State, Women's Track and Field; Mariah Nuss, Northern Iowa, Women's Golf; Matisen Ingle, Southern Illinois, Women's Track and Field; Michelle Pierce, Valparaiso, Women's 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.
Connor O'Brien, Bradley, Baseball, Senior
- Dean's List Fall 2018, Spring 2020, Fall 2020, Spring 2021
- Braves Council Student Athlete Representative for Baseball 2019-2022
- Team Lead for Senior Consultant Project
- Bradley Busey Bank Scholar-Athlete of the Week
- MVC Honor Roll (2018-2021)
- Community Service
- VS. Cancer Fundraiser Co-Lead in 2021 and Lead in 2022
- Helped raise $16,000 for VS. Cancer Foundation and the Children's Hospital of Illinois
- Visited the children at the Children's Hospital of Illinois
- RB Church Food Drive Volunteer
- 5K Military Run Volunteer
Pur Biel, Drake, Men's Track and Field, Junior
- Academic All American Third Team
- ICCAC Academic All-Region First Team (2020)
- ICCAC Academic All-Region Second Team (2019)
- Community Service
- Olympic Refugee Foundation Board Member (2017-Present)
- United Nations Higher Commissioner for Refugees Goodwill Ambassador (2020)
- Refugee Olympic Team Leader and Spokesperson (2021-2022)
- International Olympic Committee Member
Mackenzie McFeron, Evansville, Softball, Senior
- Dean's List (5 semesters)
- MVC Honor Roll 2020-2021
- Community Service
- Cardio for Canines
- Toys 4 Tots
- Reading to Elementary School Kids
- Boo at the Evansville Zoo
- UE SAAC Member
- MVC SAAC Member
- NCAA D1 SAAC Member
- Student-Athlete Mental Health Committee
- Committee on Women's Athletics
- Strategic Vision and Planning Committee Subgroup
Rachel Hickey, Illinois State, Women's Track and Field, Senior
- 4.00 GPA in Journalism and Integrated Marketing Communications
- MVC Scholar-Athlete Team (2020-21)
- Elite 17 Award Winner (2019 and 2020)
- USTFCCCA All-Academic Team (2020)
- MVC Honor Roll (2018-2021)
- AFNI Honor Roll (2018-2021)
- Honors Program Student
- Community Service
- Curb Birds
- Normal Community West Canned Food Drive
- Oakdale Mentorship Program
- Oakdale Pen Pal Program
- Beta Gamma Sigma's JDRG Social Media Fundraiser
- Student Tutor
Cassandra Thomerson, Indiana State, Softball, Junior
- Dean's List Fall 2019, Spring 2020, Fall 2020, Spring 2021, Fall 2021
- 4.0 Semester Fall 2021
- 3.83 GPA in Applied Medicine
- Community Service
- ISU Sycamore Pantry Food Drive (2022)
- Volunteer Private Lessons Softball Coach (2019-Present)
- Safe Routes to School Volunteer (2021)
- Toy Drive for Elementary Students (2021)
Lorenza Martinez, Loyola, Women's Golf, Senior
- Dean's List Every Semester
- 3.0 Club Every Semester with a cumulative GPA of 3.8
- WCGA All Academic Scholar (2019, 2020, 2021)
- MVC Scholar-Athlete team in 2019-20 and 2020-2021
- Community Service
- Weekly Volunteer at the Labre Homeless Center
- Team Community Service Events
Calandra Henry, Missouri State, Women's Track and Field, Junior
- MVC Scholar-Athlete Team 2021
- MSU Athletic Director's Honor Roll Fall 2019, Spring 2020, Fall 2020, Spring 2021
- MVC Honor Roll (2019-2020, 2020-2021)
- Maroon & White Scholar-Athlete (2019, 2020, 2021)
- 3.73 Overall GPA
- Community Service
- Women's Track and Field Leadership Council
- Black Student-Athlete Alliance Vice President of Service and Giving
- Unity in Action
- Sister Circle
- Convoy of Hope
- Bears Read
- Girls on the Run
- Breast Cancer Awareness Walk
Mariah Nuss, UNI, Women's Golf, Senior
- Dean's List
- Athletic Director's Honor Roll
- MVC Honor Roll
- Community Service
- Lights in the Park Volunteer
- Vacation Bible School Leader
- Waffle/Omelet Volunteer
- AAU Volleyball Coach
- Video Maker
- Champions Approach Camp
- Little Cougar Golf Camp
- Pitching Coach
- God's Work Our Hands
- Hillcrest BINGO Helper
- Speaker
- Halloween Truck or Treat/Drive Up
- UNI Lock-In Advisor
- MLK Day Volunteer
- Dance Marathon Dancer
- NewAldaya Lifescapes Volunteer
Matisen Ingle, Southern Illinois, Women's Track and Field, Senior
- 2022 Sport Administration Student of the Year
- Dean's List (2019-2021)
- MVC Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award (2020-2021)
- MVC Honor Roll (2019-2020)
- Community Service
- Saluki One Reading Event for Elementary Students
- Academics Mentor
- High School Track Meet Volunteer
- Ball-Shagger for Volleyball Game
- Volunteer Coach for Middle School Volleyball
- Zombie 5K Run Volunteer
- Fun and Fitness Relays Volunteer
- Ball-Shagger for Soccer Game
Michelle Pierce, Valparaiso, Women's Track & Field, Senior
- Dean's List (Spring 2019, Spring 2020, Fall 2020, Fall 2021)
- Presidential Academic Honors Award (2021)
- Pi Sigma Alpha (Political Science Honors Society)
- Community Service
- APO Member (Leadership and Community Service Fraternity)
- BSO We Matter Week
- Honor Council
- Valparaiso Popcorn Fest
- Red Cross Volunteer
- SAAC
- SAAC Mental Health Committee
- Youth Service Week