2024 Fall State Farm MVC Good Neighbor Awards Announced
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 2024 Fall season.

This year’s Fall honorees include Brooke Garter, Belmont, Women’s Cross Country and Track & Field; Kaylenn Hunt, Bradley, Volleyball; Addie Schmierer, Drake, Volleyball; Owen Cuplin, Evansville, Men’s Cross Country; Quinn Ruiz, UIC, Women’s Soccer; Mason Kaplan, Illinois State, Football; Ethan Chambers, Indiana State, Football; Hailey Palmer, Missouri State, Women’s Soccer; Nathan Quinn, Murray State, Men’s Cross Country; Tristan Roper, Northern Iowa, Football; Ashlyn Henrie, Southern Illinois, Women’s Soccer; Brooks Julian, Valparaiso, Men’s Cross Country.

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.
 
Brooke Garter, Belmont, Women’s Cross Country and Track & Field, Graduate Student

• Academic All-District® by College Sports Communicators (CSC), formerly College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA)
• Regularly named to the Belmont Dean’s List
• Maintained a 4.0 GPA while majoring in secondary education and mathematics
• Earned her bachelor’s degree in May 2024
• OVC Academic Medal of Honor Winner (XC & TF): 2020-21, 2021-22
• OVC Commissioner’s Honor Roll (XC & TF): 2020-21, 2021-22
• MVC All-Academic Award (XC & TF): 2022-23, 2023-24
• MVC Commissioner’s Academic Excellence Award (XC & TF): 2022-23, 2023-24
• MVC Board of Directors Academic Award: 2023-24
• MVC Elite 17 Award winner (Indoor TF): 2023-24
• 2024 Bruins Choice Awards: Graduating Senior Academic Achievement Award and Team Academic Achievement Award (highest GPA per team)
• 2023 MVC Cross Country Scholar-Athlete Team
• Scholar-athlete team from women's cross-country
• Community Service
  • Church of the City Volunteer
  • Young Life Capernaum
  • Brightpath Tutoring
  • Tutor for the Family Wellbeing Center
     

Kaylenn Hunt, Bradley, Volleyball, Senior

• 4.0 Cumulative GPA, Graduation 2025
• Accounting and Spanish Double Major
• Dean's List: Fall 2021, Spring 2022, Fall 2022, Spring 2023, Fall 2023, Spring 2024
• MVC Honor Roll: Fall 2021, Spring 2022, Fall 2022, Spring 2023, Fall 2023, Spring 2024
• Athletic Director’s Honor Roll: Fall 2021, Spring 2022, Fall 2022, Spring 2023, Fall 2023, Spring 2024
• Bold Institute Member 2024-25 (Leadership Academy)
• Internships with Caterpillar Inc. 2 consecutive summers
• Community Service
  • Church 2:14's Collective (Young Adult Ministry)
  • Church 2:14's YTH 2:14 (Youth Group)
  • Church 2:14's Worship Team
  • Church 2:14's Kid's Church
  • Valeska Hinton Early Childhood Bilingual Pre-K
  • Volunteer Speech & Debate Judge at Von Steuben Middle School and Glen Oak Community Learning Center
  • Power of Sports Initiative at Northmoor Primary School and CT Vivian Primary School
  • Peoria Farmer's Market
  • Artists ReEnvisioning Tomorrow

Addie Schmierer, Drake, Volleyball, Senior

• Dean’s List – Fall 2021, Spring 2022, Fall 2022, Spring 2023
• President’s List – Fall 2023, Spring 2024
• Missouri Valley Conference Honor Roll: 2021-2022, 2022-2023, 2023-2024
• Commissioner’s Academic Excellence Award: 2022-2023, 2023-2024
• Community Service
  • Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP) at UnityPoint Methodist Hospital
  • Child Life Services at Blank Children’s Hospital
  • You Matter Project at Drake University, Founder
  • Volleyball and basketball youth camps
  • Greenwood Elementary School
  • Big O Foundation

Owen Cuplin, Evansville, Men’s Cross Country, Sophomore

• Major in Exercise Science, professional track
  • 3.916 GPA
• Dean’s List: Fall 2023, Spring 2024
• Community Service
  • SAAC
  • Other student led inititavites

Quinn Ruiz, UIC, Women’s Soccer, Senior

• Dean's list: Fall 2021, Spring 2022, Fall 2022, Spring 2023, Fall 2023, Spring 2024
• Graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s in Urban Studies in Spring 2024
• MVC Board of Directors Academic Excellence Award
• Community Service
  • SAAC Member
  • MVC SAAC Legislative Subcommittee
  • MVC SAAC Equity and Diversity Liaison
  • UIC SAAC Executive Board
    • Vice President (2024-25)
    • MVC Representative and Liaison (2023-24)
    • Community Service and Outreach Vice Chair (2022-23)
  • UIC Women’s Soccer Leadership Council
  • Chancellor’s Athletic Advisory Committee
  • Food Drive
  • Soccer for All Event
  • Girls Inc. St. Louis Olympic Day Event
  • Toiletry Drive for The Maria Women’s Shelter Chicago
  • The Fresh Start Community Garden Clean-Up Event St. Louis
  • Women’s Soccer Community Event at Deborah’s Place Women’s Shelter
  • Pop-Up Pantry Food Drive
  • Baum Foundation Children’s Event

Mason Kaplan, Illinois State, Football, Junior

• Major in Psychology
• 4.00 cumulative GPA
• ISU Athletics Honor Roll: Spring 2023, Fall 2023, Spring 2024
• MVFC Honor Roll: 2022-23, 2023-24
• MVFC Commissioner’s Academic Excellence Award: 2023-24
• Illinois State University Dean’s List: Spring 2023, Fall 2023, Spring 2024
• Community Service
  • Member of SAAC and serves as Athletics rep on campus for Student Affairs Meetings
  • Best Buddies Program
  • Friendship Walk Volunteer
  • Polar Plunge Volunteer
  • Special Olympics Volunteer
  • Elementary Reading Days Volunteer
  • Million Meals Volunteer
  • YWCA/Stepping Stones Awareness Walk
  • ISU Athletics Mental Health Symposium Station Leader
  • Meet & Greet Unit 5 Volunteer
  • Towanda Elementary End of the School Year Event Volunteer
  • STEM Day Volunteer

Ethan Chambers, Indiana State, Football, Redshirt Junior

• 3.96 GPA in Kinesiology
• Dean’s List: Fall 2021, Spring 2022, Fall 2022, Spring 2023, Fall 2023, Spring 2024
• Community Service
  • SAAC President
  • Fellowship of Christan Athletes (FCA) Vice President
  • Team Captain
  • Freshman Peer Mentor
  • Tutor
  • Sycamore Solace (Mental Health) Peer Mentor
  • Happiness Bag Volunteer

Hailey Palmer, Missouri State, Women’s Soccer, Senior

• Athletic Director’s Honor Roll: Spring 2023, Fall 2023, Spring 2024
• Dean’s List: Spring 2023, Fall 2023, Spring 2024
• Maroon & White Scholar-Athlete: 2024
• MVC Honor Roll
• Community Service
  • Bears Leadership Institute
  • SAAC
  • Eden Village
  • Catholic Charities food & clothing drives
  • Kaw Valley FC Youth Soccer Camps
  • FCA mentor
  • UMC Children’s Hospital oncology
  • Rivendale Institute of Learning volunteer
  • MSU SAAC street clean-up

Nathan Quinn, Murray State, Men’s Cross Country, Senior

• MVC Commissioner’s Academic Excellence Award: 2023-2024
• MVC Honor Roll: 2023-2024
• President’s List: Spring 2024
• Dean’s List: Fall 2020, Spring 2023, Fall 2023
• Community Service
  • 3-year SAAC Representative
  • Baptist Campus Ministry, Member
  • Murray State Arboretum Cleanup, Volunteer
  • Murray Elementary School, Racers Read Volunteer
  • Murray-Calloway Country Need Line, Volunteer

Tristan Roper, UNI, Football, Senior

• Major in Management: Business Administration
  • Minor in Real Estate
• Campus Involvement
  • Five-year Freshman Move-in Day volunteer
  • Five-year “Pack the Dome” volunteer on MLK Jr. Day
  • Four-year UNIty Walk participant
  • SAAC Representative
  • Panther Pantry
• Community Service
  • Welcome to School, Highland Elementary
  • Junior Achievement
  • UNI Dance Marathon
  • Panther Reading
  • Cedar Heights Elementary
  • Martinson Fun Run

Ashlyn Henrie, Southern Illinois, Women’s Soccer, Senior

• MVC Board of Directors Academic Award recipient: 2023-24
• MVC Commissioner’s Academic Excellence Award recipient: 2022-23
• MVC Honor Roll: 2021-22
• Community Service
  • SAAC Member
  • Supervised youth soccer camps
  • Packaged food for Gum Drops
  • Packaged Christmas shoe boxes with Hearts & Minds Ministries

Brooks Julian, Valparaiso, Men’s Cross Country, Junior

• NJCAA First Team Academic All-Region: 2022, 2023
• NJCAA First Team Academic All-American: 2023, 2024
• Dean’s List: Fall 2022, Spring 2023, Fall 2023, Spring 2024
• Community Service
  • 50/50 raffle ticket sales, Blackhawk basketball games
  • Old Thresher’s in Mount Pleasant, Iowa and University of Iowa football games, volunteer
  • Little League umpire
  • Valparaiso Popcorn Fest volunteer
  • Little Tiger Basketball Camp