In an effort to honor the achievements of exceptional student-athletes, the Missouri Valley Conference has created the State Farm MVC Good Neighbor Award.  Ten student-athletes have been named by Commissioner Doug Elgin as the honorees for the 2017-18 Winter season.

This year’s Winter honorees include Donte Thomas, Bradley, Men's Basketball; Paige Greiner, Drake, Women's Basketball; Blake Simmons, Evansville, Men's Basketball; Marie Priest, Illinois State, Gymnastics; Mykenzie Kostka, Indiana State, Women's Swimming & Diving; Clayton Custer, Loyola, Men's Basketball; Chris Heye, Missouri State, Men's Swimming & Diving; Rose Simon-Ressler, Northern Iowa, Women's Basketball; Rachel Hauer, Southern Illinois, Women's Swimming & Diving; Dani Franklin, 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 10 student-athletes three times annually (fall, winter, spring), for a total of 30 honorees.  Institutions select their State Farm MVC Good Neighbor Award honorees.

Donte Thomas, Bradley, Men's Basketball, Senior

• 3.22 GPA in Social Work
• MVC Honor Roll (2015-17)
• MVC Scholar-Athlete Second Team (2017)
• Bradley COUNTRY Financial Scholar-Athlete of the Week (2015-2x, 2017-2x)
• Bradley Athletic Director's Honor Roll (Fall 2014, Fall 2015-Spring 2017)
• Community Service:
  • Boys and Girls Summer Camp
  • OSF Children's Hospital
  • Bradley Welcome Week Service Projects
  • Methodist Hospital's Kourage Kids Kamp
  • Ridgeview Elementary School
  • YMCA Healthy Kids Day
  • United Way Mad Dash
  • George Washington Carver Center Basketball Clinic
  • Bradley Service Day
  • Bradley Move-in Day
  • Bradley Activities Fair
  • Loaves & Fishes
  • Peoria Marathon
  • Bowling Night Scholarship Gala
  • Whitney's Walk (Suicide Awareness Walk)

Paige Greiner, Drake, Women's Basketball, Senior

• 3.50 GPA in Psychology with a concentration in Behavior Analysis/Developmental Disabilities and Human Resource Managament
• Dean's List
• President's List
• MVC Academic Honor Roll
• Community Service:
  • Solheim Cup
  • Williamsburg Packaging
  • Basketball Camp Instructor
  • Iowa State Fair
  • Courage League
  • Food Bank of Iowa
  • Habitat for Humanity
  • Meals from the Heartland

Blake Simmons, Evansville, Men's Basketball, Senior

• 3.86 cumulative GPA 
• Dean's List (Nine semesters)
• MVC Scholar-Athlete of the Week
• MVC Scholar Athlete Team (2015, 16)
• Presidents Council Academic Excellence Award (2017)
• Community Service:
  • Red Ribbon Assembly
  • Reading with the Aces Day
  • Team Impact volunteer
  • IU Health's Change the Play Camp
  • Student Life - Freshman Move-in Day
  • Men's Basketball 6th Man Club
  • Character Academy
  • Komen Race for the Cure
  • Meet the Ace's Golf Outing
  • Shultz EB Walk
  • Caze Elementary School Mentor

Marie Priest, Illinois State, Gymnastics, Senior

• 3.46 cumulative GPA in Exercise Science
• MIC Academic All-Conference
• Community Service:
  • SAAC Community Service Coordinator (2017-18)
  • Recess Buddies
  • Susan G. Komen Walk
  • St. Jude Walk

Mykenzie Kostka, Indiana State, Women's Swimming & Diving, Sophomore

• 3.979 cumulative GPA
• MVC Scholar-Athlete
• Dean's List (every semester)
• AD Honor Roll
• Community Service:
  • Community Swim Meet
  • Special Olympics
  • University Convocation
  • Honors Program Fall Welcome
  • Honors Program Picnic

Clayton Custer, Loyola, Men's Basketball, Senior

• 3.518 GPA in Finance
• MVC Scholar-Athlete of the Week (three-times)
• Accepted to the presigious 5-year MBA program
• Community service through Misericordia, a center that provides care and support for individuals with developmental and physical disabilities

Chris Heye, Missouri State, Men's Swimming & Diving, Senior

• Dean's List (Fall 2014, Spring 2015, Spring 2016, Fall 2016, Spring 2017)
• Athletic Director's Honor Roll (Fall 2014, Spring 2015, Fall 2015, Spring 2016, Fall 2016, Spring 2017, Fall 2017)
• Maroon & White Scholar-Athlete (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018)
• Dr. Bruce Johnson Maroon & White Scholar
• Academic All-MAC (2015-16)
• MAC Distinguished Scholar (2016-17)
• CSCAA Scholar All-American (2017)
• Community Service:
  • Tooth Truck
  • Missouri Mission of Mercy
  • Habitat for Humanity
  • Bear Crew
  • Buddy Bear
  • Trail of Lights
  • Pre-Dental Society

Rose Simon-Ressler, UNI, Women's Basketball, Redshirt Sophomore

• 3.73 GPA in Health Promotion with a minor in Coaching
• Dean's List (5 semesters)
• MVC Honor Roll
• Community Service:
  • Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Team representative
  • Fellowship of Christian Athletes Leadership representative
  • UNI Service and Leadership Council Leadership Committee leader
  • Salvation Army
  • Boys' and Girls' Club
  • Northeast Iowa Food Bank
  • Junior Panther Night
  • Panther Reading Program
  • Panther Caravan
  • Kids' Clinics

Rachel Hauer, Southern Illinois, Women's Swimming & Diving, Junior

• 4.00 GPA in Finance 
• SAAC Representative
• MVC Scholar-Athlete (2015-16)
• Academic All-MVC (2016-17)
• Community Service:
  • Pumpkin Fest
  • Parade Activities

Dani Franklin, Valparaiso, Women's Basketball, Senior

•  3.57 GPA in Elementary Education
• Valparaiso University's Presidential Academic Honor Award (three years)
• Exemplifies what is means to be a champion in competition, the classroom and the community