In an effort to honor the achievement of exceptional student-athletes, the Missouri Valley Conference has created the State Farm MVC Good Neighbor Award. Eleven student-athletes have been named by Commissioner Jeff Jackson as the honorees for the 2025 Fall season.
 
This year’s Fall honorees include Kate Virtel, Belmont, Women’s Soccer; Trixie Wraith, Bradley, Women’s Cross Country; Grace Smith, Drake, Women’s Soccer; Ainoah Cruz, Evansville, Volleyball; Bella Lister, UIC, Women’s Soccer; Erika Wells, Illinois State, Women’s Soccer; Anna Chor, Indiana State, Women’s Soccer; Mary Hardy, Murray State, Women’s Soccer; Macy Smith, Northern Iowa, Women’s Soccer; Eva Krakowski, Southern Illinois, Volleyball; Addy Kois, Valparaiso, Volleyball.
 
Katie Virtel, Belmont, Women’s Soccer, Junior

• Dean’s List: all four semesters at Belmont
• 2024 CSC Academic All-District
• MVC Honor Roll: 2023-24
• MVC Commissioner’s Academic Excellences Award
• Community Services
  • Nashville Dolphins Club
  • Young Life Capernaum Club
  • Belmont Athletics Misson Trip to Costa Rica

 
Trixie Wraith, Bradley, Women’s Cross Country, Senior

• English and Psychology Double Major  with a 3.54 cumulative GPA
• MVC Scholar Athlete (2025)
• Bradley University Fall Spotlight Student (2024)
• Dean’s List: Fall 2023, Fall 2024, Spring 2025
• MVC Honor Roll: Fall 2022-Spring 2025
• Athletic Director Honor Roll (Fall 2022-Spring 2025)
• Community Services
  • Vice President of Braves Council (2025)-active member since 2023
  • MVC SAAC Committee Member (2024-)
  • Civil Engagement Chair (2025)
  • Member of BOLD Institute-student leadership Institute (2025)
  • Volunteer at the Bradley University ‘Bid for the Braves’ (2023-25)
  • Bradley university’s ‘Power of Sport’ initiative with local elementary and middle schools
  • Bradley Athletics Sports Awards speaker 2024; Main Presenter 2025
  • Volunteered at the ‘Bradley Pink Classic’ (2024)
  • Volunteered at the Bradley Intercollegiate (2025)
  • Bradley Serve at the Wildlife Prairie Park
  • Sterling Middle School Carnival (2025)
  • 50/50 raffle seller at the Men’s Basketball Game (2023)
  • Volunteered with Bradley XC at the ‘Fit Fair’ (2025)
  • Litter Picking by the Peoria High School and Track (2023)
  • Packing and Sorting boxes at the Midwest Food Bank (2023)
  • Hertfordshire Schools Athletic Association volunteer assistant (2018-2024)

 
Grace Smith, Drake, Women’s Soccer, Senior-Graduate

• Pursuing Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a Minor in Sociology
• Master of Science in Counseling Candidate
• President’s List: Fall 2022, Fall 2023, Spring 2024, Spring 2025
• Dean’s List: Spring 2023, Fall 2024
• MVC Commissioner’s Academic Excellence Award: 2023–24, 2024–25
• Community Services

• St. Pius Church’s Giving Tree,
• Assisted children with disabilities in baseball at Miracle League with the Iowa Cubs
• Supported the Hubbell Elementary After School Care Program
• Meals from the Heartland, packing meals
• Planned Drake SAAC Mental Health Awareness Week for the student-athletes
• Organized the Drake Women’s Soccer Mental Health Awareness Game,
• Served as keynote speaker for the Drake Counseling × NAMI Annual Suicide Awareness Walk
• Assisted with Drake’s Suit Up Against Pediatric Cancer Men’s Basketball game
• Advocated for the Young Women’s Resource Center at a Drake Women’s Soccer game
• YMCA Resident Housing residents

 
Ainoah Cruz, Evansville, Volleyball, Junior

• Dean’s List (2 semesters)
• Community Service
  • Team Community Services
  • Translator at a church
  • Works with local volleyball players at local club program

 
Bella Lister, UIC, Women’s Soccer, Senior

• Bachelor of Business Administration with a minor in Leadership and Sports management (3.8 cumulative GPA)
• Spring 2025 Dean’s List
• Spring 2025 Missouri Valley Honors
• Spring 2025 Flames Scholar Athlete
• Community Services:
  • Domestic Violence Awareness Game Day
  • Rise and Shine by Jay DeMerit Coaching & Mentoring
  • UAON-StepUp for Kids
  • UIC Family Day
  • Habitat for Humanity
  • KeeperCulture Soccer Coaching
  • Special Olympics
  • Hope and Health Charity-Whitecaps soccer event
  • Paws Chicago

 
Erika Wells, Illinois State, Women’s Soccer, Junior

• Molecular and Cellular Biology Major with a 3.8 cumulative GPA
• Dean’s List: Fall 2023, Spring 2024, Fall 2024.Spring 2025
• Honor Roll
• Athletics Honnor Roll 2023-Current
• Athletics SAAC Representative 2024-Current
• Served as SAAC Executive Board as Student Affairs Rep 2024-26
• Serves as SAAC Executive Board as Event Coordinator 2025-2026
• Community Services
  • Oakdale Elementary Corn Crib Concession Volunteer
  • Midwest Food Bank Volunteer
  • Oakdale Elementary Clothing drive
  • First Methodist Church Remodeling Team Volunteer
  • State Farm Million Meals Packaging Volunteer
  • Illinois Special Olympic Volunteer
  • Julie Heidecke Elementary Soccer Camp Volunteer
  • Illinois State University Athletics SAAC Canned Food Drive
  • Illinois State University Athletics Pen Pals Program
  • Illinois State University Athletics Best Buddies Volunteer
  • Unit 5 Holliday Helper Volunteer
  • Kiwanis Club Pancake Breakfast Volunteer

 
Anna Chor, Indiana State, Women Soccer, Senior

• Major in Digital Communication & Media with a 4.00 GPA
  • Minor in Sport Communications
• Dean’s List
• AD Honor Roll
• 24-25 department of commutation outstanding junior  
• Community Services
  • Coach-Terre Haute Premier Soccer
  • Volunteer for VCYSA Buddy Soccer
  • Volunteer for Buddy Walk for Down Syndrome Indiana
  • Prepared and served meal at Catholic Charites

 
Mary Hardy, Murray State, Women’s Soccer, Senior

• President’s list (4.0) Fall 2022, Spring 2023, Fall 2023, Spring 2024, Fall 2024, Spring 2025
• Chi Alpha Sigma 2025 inductee
• Community service
  • Racers Day of Service
  • Youth Camp
  • SW Calloway Elementary School Kids Day
  • Watch Center assisted adults with Developmental / Intellectual Disabilities along with adults with acquired brain injuries

 
Macy Smith, UNI, Women’s Soccer, Senior

• Major Business Administration with a 3.89 GPA
  • Minor Sports Administrations and Economics
• Certified in Work Psychology
• Community Services
  • SAAC representative
  • Organized Kick MITO event

 
Eva Krakowski, Southern Illinois, Volleyball, Sophomore

•  3.89 GPA in Communication Design
• Member of the AVCA Academic Award–Winning Team for 2 consecutive years
• 2× Missouri Valley Conference Honor Roll Honore
•  Dean’s List for three consecutive semesters
• Community Services
  • Participated at Nubability Activities
  • Assisted at Local Elementary Schools

 
Addy Kois, Valparaiso, Volleyball, Grad Student

• Graduated from undergraduate Cum Laude in a degree in Marketing
• Master’s degree in business with a 3.8 cumulative GPA
• 5x Academic Honors section among athletes
• Community Services
  • Advocate for Accessibility with the academic environment
  • Support Disabled Professor with Assistive Technologies and Devices for Work and Research
  • Coached dozens of athletes in Volleyball
  • Tutor Boys & Girls Club
  • Oversaw classroom of children and promoted a positive learning environment
  • Taught students in grades 1–8 in math, science, and English