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