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 2025 Winter season.

This year’s Winter honorees include Isaish Walker, Belmont, Men’s Basketball; Brandon Kamp, Bradley, Men’s Cross Country and Track & Field; Katie Dinnebier, Drake, Women’s Basketball; Tyler Myers, Evansville, Men’s Basketball; Keimari “Keke” Rimmer, UIC, Women’s Basketball; Malachi Poindexter, Illinois State, Men’s Basketball; Tahj Johnson, Indiana State, Men’s Indoor Track & Field; Mary Margaret Harris, Missouri State, Women’s Indoor Track & Field; Haven Ford, Murray State, Women’s Basketball; Erica Peters, Northern Iowa, Women’s Swimming & Diving; Mia Sinkiewicz, Southern Illinois, Women’s Swimming & Diving; Kayla Preston, Valparaiso, Women’s Basketball.

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.
 
Isaiah Walker, Belmont, Men’s Basketball, Junior

• 2024 NACDA DI-AAA ADA Scholar-Athlete of the Year
• 2x CSC Academic All-District
• 2x MVC Scholar-Athlete Team
• MVC Commissioner’s Academic Excellence Award
• 2x MVC Honor Roll
• State Farm MVC Scholar-Athlete Spotlight
• NABC Honors Court
• OVC Commissioner’s Honor Roll
• Community Service
  • Mentor for Team IMPACT program
  • Participates in 'Battle of the Bruins' talent show to benefit Nashville Special Olympics
  • Mentor, Best Buddies International; shares life experiences with paired special-needs child
  • Participates in TAK PAK fundraiser providing backpacks and school supplies for Nashville-area foster children
  • Participates in annual 'Shop with the Bruins' event to provide holiday gifts for economically disadvantaged families

Brandon Kamp, Bradley, Men’s Cross Country and Track & Field, Senior

• 4.0 Cumulative GPA
• University Dean’s List every semester from Fall 2021- Fall 2024
• MVC Honor Roll 2021-2024
• Athletic Director's Honor Roll 2021-2024
• Braves Council (SAAC) Representative 2023-24
• Braves Council Vice President 2024-25
• BOLD Institute Member 2022-2023 (Student Athlete Leadership Academy)
• Videography Intern with Bradley Athletics
• Community Service
  • Power of Sport Initiative w/ Kellar Primary School
  • Led and conducted two sports campaigns in the Peoria community:
    • Game Changer Campaign
    • Head in the Game Campaign
  • Created videos for nonprofits organizations such as the Community Foundation, Freedom House, and Impact Central Illinois.

Katie Dinnebier, Drake, Women’s Basketball, Senior

• Pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences/Pre-Pharmacy, as well as a Doctor of Pharmacy
• Dean’s List: Fall 2021, Spring 2022, Fall 2022, Spring 2023, Fall 2023, Spring 2024
• MVC Honor Roll: 2021-2022
• Commissioner’s Academic Excellence Award: 2022-2023, 2023-2024
• Community Service
  • Books with Bulldogs
  • Miracle League
  • John Stoddard Cancer Center
  • Katie Dinnebier Youth Basketball Camp
    • Boys & Girls Club of Central Iowa

Tyler Myers, Evansville, Men’s Basketball, Sophomore

• Psychology major with a GPA of 3.75
• Dean’s List
• Community Service
  • Youth Sports Coach
    • NYBA (North Youth Basketball Association) Coach 
    • NEYSC (North Evansville Youth Soccer Club) Coach
  • Founded Sensory Inclusion Charity Corp.
    • Over 30 venues hosting 1.5 million patrons annually equipped with Sensory Swag Bags containing noise cancelling headphones and fidgets to assist in overwhelming environments.
    • Created Heroes Among Us  App and curriculum for school age children K – 5 that teaches about invisible disabilities
    • Sponsored 1st ever D1 Sensory Inclusive Basketball Game (2024 – 2025)
    • Hosted 2 annual Sensory Inclusion nights at Ford Center
  • Hoop Club - Founder and President
  • St. Anthony’s Gym
  • LSN (Lilly Scholars Network)
  • Changemaker Challenge (with the ChangeLab)
  • Mentor and coach high school students
  • Taught design thinking course (2024) to local high school students for a semester
  • Serve as a tutor for students

Keimari “Keke” Rimmer, UIC, Women’s Basketball, Graduate Student

• Dean’s List
• MVC Scholar-Athlete
• Flames Scholar-Athlete
• 4.0 GPA in her first year, Master’s in Youth Development
• Community Service
  • Juneteenth Parade
  • UCAN
  • Big Brothers, Big Sisters Basketball Clinic
  • CYC Basketball Clinic
  • Backpack / Food Packing
  • Team Impact
  • UIC Day of Service
  • Whittier Elementary School Book Buddies
  • Court of Dreams Clinic
  • Pilsen Food Pantry
  • Card Making for Cancer Patients
  • Special Olympics Kickball Tournament
  • Hephzibah Basketball Clinic
  • SOS Children's Village Resource Fair
  • From Our Hearts Chi Homeless Bags
  • SOS Tree Planting
  • Face the Foundation
  • Daisie Foundation Holiday Magic
  • UI Health Patient Visits
  • Easter Seals

Malachi Poindexter, Illinois State, Men’s Basketball, Graduate Student

• Graduated Summer 2024 with B.S. in Exercise Science
• Pursuing Master’s Degree in Public Health
• ISU Athletics Honor Roll- 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25
• Will Earn MVC Honor Roll for the 2024-25 Year
• Community Service
  • YMCA of Bloomington Free Basketball Clinic
  • Western Avenue Community Center Volunteer
  • LifeLong Access (formerly Marcfirst) Fundraiser Volunteer
  • Washington Elementary School WE-FIT-IN Visit Volunteer
  • Beautiful Lives Project Volunteer
  • Day of the Dozer Volunteer
  • ISU Athletics Mental Health Symposium Volunteer
  • Team Impact Volunteer
  • Shoes That Fit Campaign Volunteer
  • The Baby Fold Holiday Helper Volunteer
  • ISU Athletics Canned Food Drive Volunteer
  • ISU Men’s Basketball Free Youth Clinic Volunteer

Tahj Johnson, Indiana State, Men’s Indoor Track & Field, Senior

• USTFCCCA Academic All-American
• MVC Track and Field Scholar-Athlete
• ISU Erik Dalton Myoskeltal Massage Therapy Endowed Scholarship
• ISU J. Fred Memorial Scholarship (ISU)
• ISU Charles E. Brown African American Cultural Center Academic Achievement Honor
• ISU Dean's list 9x
• ISU Academic Distinction Scholarship x4
• Community Service
  • Historic Lavern Gibson Cross Country Course
  • Grosjean Clinic at ISU for Bountiful Books

Mary Margaret Harris, Missouri State, Women’s Indoor Track & Field, Senior

• Dean’s List
• Athletic Director’s Honor Roll
• Community Service
  • Bears Leadership Institute
  • Ozarks Food Harvest
  • Bass Pro Marathon volunteer
  • Arkansas Jungle Boater Race volunteer
  • Butterfield Trail Village Retirement Home
  • Girls on the Run
  • Discovery Center volunteer
  • Mulberry River Clean-Up

Haven Ford, Murray State, Women’s Basketball, Sophomore

• President’s List: Fall 2023, Spring 2024, Fall 2024
• Cumulative GPA: 4.0
• 2023-2024 MVC Honor Roll
• Community Service
  • 2024 Tackle Hunger Campaign Team Leader
  • Journey Church Children’s Ministry Volunteer
  • Racers Read Program Volunteer
  • Murray-Calloway County Need Line Volunteer
  • Murray Calloway County Special Olympics Volunteer
  • Calloway County Family Resource Center Volunteer

Erica Peters, Northern Iowa, Women’s Swimming & Diving, Graduate Student

• MVC Board of Directors Academic Award
• MVC Scholar Athlete Team
• CSC Academic All-District
• Dean's List (Every Semester)
• University Honors and Scholars Program
• Kappa Mu Epsilon (Treasurer)
• SAAC (Executive Team)
• Peer Math/Stats Tutor
• Community Service
  • NEIA Food Bank Volunteer
  • Cedar Falls Schools Literacy Nights and Leader in Me
  • Cedar Falls Pen Pals
  • Timing Local Swim Meets
  • UNI Panthers Vote, voter registration initiative

Mia Sinkiewicz, Southern Illinois, Women’s Swimming & Diving, Senior

• 3.67 cumulative GPA in Biological Sciences: Pre-Physician Assistant
• Missouri Valley Conference Honor Roll: 2021-2024
• Member of The College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) Scholar All-American Team, Team award 2021, 2023- 2024
• Community Service
  • Freshman Move-in
  • Provide swim lessons to preschoolers
  • 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb
  • Canned food drive
  • Beach Sweep clean-up
  • Saluki Success guest speaker
  • SAAC member

Kayla Preston, Valparaiso, Women’s Basketball, Sophomore

• Exercise Science major
• 2024-2025 Valparaiso University Presidential Academic honors
• Community Service
  • Boys and Girls Club of Portage
  • Hilltop Neighborhood House
  • Food Pantry/Soup Kitchen
  • Valparaiso women's basketball kids camp
  • Valparaiso Popcorn Fest
  • Habitat for Humanity
  • MAAC Foundation haunted house