General

Winter 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 Winter season.

This year’s Winter honorees include Tessa Miller, Belmont, Women’s Basketball; Callie Ziebell, Bradley, Women’s Basketball; Taylor McAulay, Drake, Women’s Basketball; Ben Humrichous, Evansville, Men’s Basketball; Isaiah Rivera, UIC, Men’s Basketball; Maya Wong, Illinois State, Women’s Basketball; Julian Larry, Indiana State, Men’s Basketball; Lily DeSpain, Missouri State, Women’s Swimming & Diving; Quincy Anderson, Murray State, Men’s Basketball;  Taylor Short, Northern Iowa, Women’s Swimming & Diving; Miroslava Zaborska, Southern Illinois, Women’s Swimming & Diving; Roxanne Adams, Valparaiso, Women’s Swimming & Diving.

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.
 
Tessa Miller, Belmont, Women’s Basketball, Junior
  • College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District® (2022-23)
  • MVC Scholar-Athlete Second Team (2022-23)
  • Holds a 3.98 cumulative GPA majoring in legal studies
  • Posted a perfect 4.0 GPA in 2022-23
  • A member of Belmont Dean’s List every semester
  • Volunteered
    • Special Olympics
    • Salama Urban Ministries
    • Nashville SAAC Day of Service at the Juvenile Justice Center
    • Clinic for Covenant School
    • Shop with the Bruins
    • Ryan Seacrest Foundation
    • TAK PAK Day
    • Harvest Hands
  • Created
    • Harvest Hands After School Program Visits to Belmont
    • Donations/Food Drive for Harvest Hands (In the works)
  • Organized
    • Harvest Hands Meal Prep Help
    • Harvest Hands After School Program Help!
 
Callie Ziebell, Bradley, Women’s Basketball, Junior
  • Cumulative GPA 3.95
  • Dean’s List (Fall ‘21, Spring ‘22, Fall ‘22, Spring ‘23, & Fall ‘23) 
  • Bradley Athletic Director’s Honor Roll (Fall ‘21, Spring ‘22, Fall ‘22, Spring ‘23, & Fall ‘23)
  • MVC Honor Roll (2021-22, 2022-23)
  • Brave’s Council Representative (2023-2024)
  • B.O.L.D Institute Member (Leadership Academy)
  • Community Service
    • Peoria Friendship House Back to School Bash
    • Boys & Girls Club of Peoria
    • St. Marks Read Across America Day
    • Heller Center for Kids with Cancer
    • Children’s Hospital of Illinois
    • BU Clean Up Crew
    • Morton Pumpkin Festival
    • Peoria Public Schools Power of Sport Initiative
    • Washington Senior Living Center
    • YMCA Trunk or Treat
 
Taylor McAulay, Drake, Women’s Basketball, Graduate Student
  • Pursuing a Master of Science in Health Informatics and Analytics
  • Dean’s List
  • MVC Honor Roll
  • Community Service
    • Active volunteer at the Boys and Girls Club and Miracle League of Urbandale
    • Hospital Elder Life Program at Unity Point
    • Unity Point Cancer Center and vision screenings
    • The Arbondale – social night with the residents
    • Books with Bulldogs
Ben Humrichous, Evansville, Men’s Basketball, Graduate Student
  • Undergraduate - 3.93 GPA with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics
  • Pursuing a Master of Science in Leadership
  • Currently holds a 4.0 GPA
  • Dean’s List (Fall 2023)
  • Community Service
    • Helping with Freshmen move-in
    • UE International Bizarre
    • Evansville Fall Festival
    • Pacers Youth Basketball Camp
    • Evansville YMCA
    • Active in Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA)
 
 
Isaiah Rivera, UIC, Men’s Basketball, Senior
  • 4.0 GPA
  • Dean’s List (every semester)
  • UIC Scholar-Athlete
  • Graduate in August 2024 then grad school in Fall 2024
  • Community Service
    • Special Olympic house in Chicago – played basketball with the youth
    • MVC community service at Media Days
    • Writes letter to HS basketball team in hometown to encourage mental toughness
    • Works with Team Impact player
    • Youth baseball team in Geneseo, IL
Maya Wong, Illinois State, Women’s Basketball, Redshirt Senior
  • Undergraduate degree in Psychology (BS)
  • Currently pursuing a graduate degree in Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity (MS)
  • ISU Athletics Honor Roll (Spring ‘20, Spring ‘21, Spring ‘22, Fall ’23)
  • MVC Honor Roll (2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22)
  • Community Service
    • Day of the Dozer
    • Midwest Food Bank
    • 100 Caring Adults
    • Elementary School Reading Days
    • Susan G. Komen More Than Pink Walk
    • Shoes That Fit
    • YMCA of Bloomington/Normal Volunteer
    • Taste of Redbirds Volunteer
    • Education Day Volunteer
 
Julian Larry, Indiana State, Men’s Basketball, Junior
  • AD Honor Roll (2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23)
  • Community Service
    • Beautiful Lives Project
    • CEO Breakfast
    • Faculty Appreciation Luncheon
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Lily DeSpain, Missouri State, Women’s Swimming & Diving, Senior
  • 3.78 overall GPA in Cell & Molecular Biology
  • Minors in Chemistry, Chinese, Biomedical Science & Molecular Biology
  • Dean’s List (Spring ’22, Fall ’22, Spring ’23, Fall ‘23)
  • MVC Scholar-Athlete (2023)
  • AD Honor Roll (Spring ’22, Fall ’22, Spring ’23, Fall ’23)
  • Maroon & White Scholar-Athlete (2023,2024)
  • Community Service
    • Harvest for the Hungry
    • Best Buddies
    • Cards for Veterans
    • Joy Bright Hancock Organization (Public Affairs Officer)
    • Translator, US Naval Academy Museum
    • Peer Tutor
    • Peer Advisor
    • Women’s Medical Respite
    • Mercy Hospital volunteer
    • Bears Leadership Institute
    • SAAC President (2023-2024)
    • Phi Kappa Phi
    • Tau Sigma Honor Society President
 
Quincy Anderson, Murray State, Men’s Basketball, Senior
  • 3.88 GPA
  • MVC Commissioner’s Academic Excellence Award (2022-23)
  • MVC Men’s Basketball Scholar-Athlete Team (2023)
  • Community Service
    • Racers Read Program
    • Soup for the Soul
    • Murray Calloway Need Line
    • Murray- Calloway County Park Clean-up
    • Towing For Toys- Basketball in the Park
Taylor Short, UNI, Women’s Swimming & Diving, Senior
  • Unofficial CUM GPA: 3.920
  • Athletic Director Honor Roll (2021, 2022)
  • All MVC Scholar-Athlete Team (2021-22)
  • Community Service
    • UNI Swim and Dive Captain (2022-23, 2023-present) 
    • UNI Dance Marathon: Director of Campus Relations (2022-23, 2023- present) 
    • Minority Student Athlete Leadership Team (MSALT) Member (2021- present) 
 
Miroslava Zaborska, Southern Illinois, Women’s Swimming & Diving, Senior
  • Double major in Chemistry and Mathematics with a 3.73 GPA
  • MVC Academic Honor Roll (2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23)
  • MVC Commissioners Academic Excellence award (2021-22, 2022-23)
  • SIU Carlo Montemagno Excellence Scholarship (2022, 2023)
  • SIU Dean’s List (2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23)
  • CSCA Academic All-District Team (2022-23)
  • Community Service
    • MVC SAAC Representative (2022-23)
    • Swim & Dive SAAC Representative (2021-24)
    • Academic Mentor
    • Swim & Dive Team Community Service Coordinator
    • 3-year coordinator and participant in Community Clean-Up Day
Roxanne Adams, Valparaiso, Women’s Swimming & Diving, Freshman
  • 4.0 GPA in first semester as a Biology major
  • Community Service
    • St. Teresa Café Manna
    • Children’s church at Calvary Church
    • Celebrate worship team
    • Trunk or treat at Valpo Boys and Girls Club for those with special needs