In an effort to honor the achievements of exceptional student-athletes, the Missouri Valley Conference has created the State Farm MVC Good Neighbor Award.  Twelve student-athletes have been named by Commissioner Jeff Jackson as the honorees for the 2023 Fall season.

This year’s Fall honorees include Laura Shoopman, Belmont, Volleyball; Camden Kowalski, Bradley, Men’s Soccer; Delaney Goertzen, Drake, Women’s Soccer; Porter Pomykal, Evansville, Men’s Soccer; Juan Gutierrez, Illinois at Chicago, Men’s Soccer; Maggi Weller, Illinois State, Volleyball; Asia Povlin, Indiana State, Volleyball; Natalie Clayton, Missouri State, Cross Country; Jenna Villacres, Murray State, Women’s Soccer;  Ashley Harrington, Northern Iowa, Women’s Soccer; Tatum Tornatta, Southern Illinois, Volleyball; Sam Warren, 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 12 student-athletes three times annually (Fall, Winter, Spring), for a total of 36 honorees.  Institutions select their State Farm MVC Good Neighbor Award honorees.
 
Laura Shoopman, Belmont, Volleyball, Senior

• MVC Scholar-Athlete First Team (2022)

• MVC Commissioner’s Academic Excellence Award (2022-23)
• MVC Academic Honor Roll (2022-23)
• OVC Commissioner’s Honor Roll (2021-22)
• Dean’s List (Spring 2021-present)
• Campus involvement
  • Belmont Athletic Marketing Program (BAM)
  • Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA)
  • Volleyball Team Leadership Committee (2021-2023)
  • Volleyball Team Captain (2022)
  • Supply Chain Management Panel (2022-2023)
  • Belmont Athlete Mentorship Program (2021-2024)
• Community service
  • Boo at the Zoo
  • The Bridge meal packing
  • Capernaum Club
  • Rock and Roll Marathon
  • Tusculum Elementary Belmont Day
  • Fisk University Gymnastics Competition
  • Student-Athlete Mission Trip to Unalakleet, Alaska

 
Camden Kowalski, Bradley, Men’s Soccer, Senior 

• MVC Honor Roll (2021)
• Bradley Athletic Director’s Honor Roll Fall 2020, Spring 2021, Fall 2022, Spring 2022, Spring 2023
• Dean’s List Fall 2020, Spring 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2023
• Braves Council Student-Athlete Representative for Soccer 2023-2024
• Community Service
  • Food Drive for Mundelein High School
  • St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Telethon volunteer
  • Florida Hurricane Relief at Fort Myers Beach
  • Rock Steady Boxing
  • St. Jude Charity Auction
  • Almost Home Kids volunteer
  • Coached little kids’ soccer at Bethany Baptist Church

 
Delaney Goertzen, Drake, Women’s Soccer, Graduate Student 

• 4.0 GPA in Health Sciences: Clinical & Applied
• President’s List (Fall 2019 – Present)
• Outstanding Health Sciences Student Award (2022)
• Nominated for the Adams Leadership Outstanding Junior/P1 Student Award (2022)
• Graduated Summa Cum Laude in May 2023
• Currently pursing a biology degree
• Community Service
  • Volunteer Service Abroad (VSA)
  • LifeServe Blood Center
  •  Helping coach at Drake Soccer camps
  • Thrive Academy Vocation Skills Club
  • Meals from the Heartland
  • Hubbell Elementary

Porter Pomykal, Evansville, Men’s Soccer, Junior

• Graduate in Spring 2024 with a degree in Finance
• Dean’s List every semester since the Fall of 2021 with a perfect 4.0
• Community Service
  • Susan G. Komen Walk
  • The YMCA
  • Local soup kitchen
  •  UE SAAC Representative

Juan Gutierrez, UIC, Men’s Soccer; Senior

• UIC Scholar-Athlete, Fall 2020, Spring 2021, Fall 2021, Spring 2022, Fall 2022, Spring 2023
• 3.044 GPA, BS Marketing
• Dean’s List Fall 2020, Spring 2021
• Community Service
  • Diversity City FC (6-8 hours a week)
  • UIC SAAC’s toiletry drive
  • UIC SAAC’S food drive

Maggi Weller, Illinois State, Volleyball, Junior

• 3.64 cumulative GPA in Graphic Communications Technology
  • Minor in Business Administration
• MVC Honor Roll (2021-2023)
• AFNI Honor Roll Fall 2021, Spring 2022, Fall 2022, Spring 2023
• Community Service
  • ISU Pen Pals Program
  • Taste of Redbirds Volunteer
  • Reading Buddies at Area Elementary Schools
  • ISU Athletics Canned Food Drive
  • Illinois State University Hog Roast Volunteer
  • ISU Athletics Mental Health Symposium
  • Boys and Girls Club
  • SAAC Representative volleyball (2022-2024)
  • MVC SAAC Representative for Illinois State

 
Asia Povlin, Indiana State, Volleyball, Senior 

• 3.77 GPA
• Direct admit into Nursing Program scholarship
• Dean’s List (Fall 2020 – May 2023)
• Community Service
  • Founder of Sycamore Solace
    • Student-athlete mental health program
  • Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA)
  • SAAC Member
  • Leader of Mental Health Matters campaign with SGA

 
Natalie Clayton, Missouri State, Cross Country, Senior

• Dean’s List (Fall 2019 – Spring 2023)
• Athletic Director’s Honor Roll (Fall 2019 – Spring 2023)
• MVC Honor Roll (2019-2023)
• MVC Commissioner’s Academic Excellence Award (2020-2023)
• Maroon & White Scholar-Athlete (2020-2023)
• Dr. Bruce Johnson Scholar-Athlete 2023
• 3.98 Overall GPA
• Leadership
  • Student Rep. for the McQueary College of Health & Human Services (2023-2024)
  • Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Member (2022-2023)
  • Bears Leadership Institute Participant (Fall 2022)
  • Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society Member
  • Student Dietetic Association
    • Vice President 2023
• Community Service
  • Convoy of Hope
  • Springfield Dream Center
  • Salt Co Campus Ministry
  • SAAC Street Clean Ups
  • Ozarks Food Harvest
  • Rural Immersion Program
  • Cooking Talks (MSU employee wellness program)
  • Complete Heath Improvement Program (CHIP) Volunteer
  • Nutrition Presentations
    • For fraternity & sorority life community, Greenwood Laboratory School, and Kinesiology classes

Jenna Villacres, Murray State, Women’s Soccer, Senior

• Dean’s List (Fall 2019, Fall 2020)
• 3.3 GPA- Biology/ Pre PT
• 3-Year Captain
• Community Service
  • SAAC Representative
  • Morgan’s Message
    • Founding Ambassador
  • Pre-PA Club
  • Sleep in Heavenly Peace
  • Murray Calloway County Needline
  • The Main Street Youth Center
  • Tribe Fitness

Ashley Harrington, UNI, Women’s Soccer, Senior

• MVC Commissioner's Academic Excellence award (2021)
• Dean’s List
• Athletic Director’s Honor Roll
• Academic All-District Women's Soccer Team (2022)
• MVC Women's Soccer Scholar-Athlete Honorable Mention (2022)
• Community Service
  • SAAC Executive
  • Physics Club
    • Vice President
  • UNI Women in Computing Club
  • Iowa Rush soccer club
  • Lincoln Elementary

Tatum Tornatta, Southern Illinois, Volleyball, Senior

• 3.87 GPA in Biomedical Science
• MVC Commissioner’s Excellence Award (2021-22)
• MVC Scholar-Athlete Honorable Mention (2021)
• MVC Honor Roll (2020-21)
• AVCA Team Academic Award (x3)
• Community Service
  • Nubability (2022-2023)
  • Green Bandana Project (2022)
  • Community Trick or Treat (2023)
  • SAAC representative (2022-23, 2023-24)

Sam Warren, Valparaiso, Volleyball, Redshirt- Sophomore

• Major in B.S. Heath Care Leadership
• Academic Dean List (every semester)                                         

• Community Service
  • Current SAAC Leader for Community Service Initiatives
  • Participates in on-campus functions
  • Participates in community service events