In an effort to honor the achievements of exceptional student-athletes, the Missouri Valley Conference, in partnership with State Farm, has created the MVC State Farm Good Neighbor Award.  Nine student-athletes have been named by Commissioner Doug Elgin as the honorees for the 2010-2011 spring season.

Spring honorees include Denise Jilka, Bradley, Sr., Softball; Kyle Obermeier, Creighton, Jr., Men's Tennis; Allison Aguilera, Evansville, Jr., Softball; John Navarro, Illinois State, Sr., Track & Field; Kasey Kahle, Indiana State, So., Track & Field; Emily Matthews, Missouri State, Jr., Golf; Eranne Daugharthy, UNI, Sr., Softball; Mallory Duran, Southern Illinois, Jr., Softball; Brian Beachum, Wichita State, Sr., Track & Field.

Winter honorees included Dodie Dunson, Bradley, Men’s Basketball, SR.; Sam Schuett, Creighton, Women’s Basketball, GS.; Kristin Turk, Drake, Women’s Basketball, SR.; Briyana Blair, Evansville, Women’s Basketball, JR.; Molly Gomberg, Illinois State, Women’s Swimming/Diving, SR.; Aaron Carter, Indiana State, Men’s Basketball, SR.; Rene Smith, Missouri State, Women’s Swimming/ Diving, SR.; Jacqui Kalin, Northern Iowa, Women’s Basketball, GS.; Renee Reed, Southern Illinois, Women’s Basketball, SO.; Chris Ronen, Wichita State, Men’s Indoor Track & Field, JR.

Fall honorees included Bobby Smith, Bradley, Men's Soccer, Jr.; Kyle Deremer, Creighton, Men's Soccer, Sr.; Colin Hagan, Drake, Men's Cross Country, Jr.; Ellen Sawin, Evansville, Volleyball, Jr.; Bethany Brown, Illinois State, Women's Soccer, Sr.; Emily Lahay, Indiana State, Women's Soccer, Jr.; Heath Melugin, Missouri State, Men's Soccer, Jr.; Jill Lageschulte, UNI, Women's Cross Country, Jr.; Joe Allaria, Southern Illinois, Football, Sr.; Mary Elizabeth Hooper, Wichita State, Volleyball, Jr.

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 Good Neighbor Award honorees.

State Farm Insurance is a long-time sponsor of the Missouri Valley Conference and sponsors all 18 MVC championship events.  Also, State Farm is a prominent sponsor of the league's television network and a sponsor of the Missouri Valley Conference's community outreach program, "Just Read!"

Denise Jilka, Bradley, Sr., Softball

• 3.54 GPA
• Global Scholars Program
• MVC Honor Roll every semester
• MVC Commissioner’s Academic Excellence Award
• Dean’s List
• ADs honor roll every semester
• Julie Prill Dream Team Project
• Soup Pantry Volunteer
• Cards that Care for Memorial Hospital
• Crittenton Center Crisis Nursery volunteer
• Volunteer at Fondulac Retirement Home
• Blood Drive volunteer

Kyle Obermeier, Creighton, Jr., Men's Tennis

• 3.72 GPA
• Dean’s List (4 semesters)
• 2011 MVC Men’s Tennis All-Scholar Athlete-First Team
• FCA Weekend of Champions
• Siena Francis Clothing & Food Drive
• Jays Helping the Homeless
• Special Olympics Tennis Buddies
• Night Out with the Jays

Allison Aguilera, Evansville, Jr., Softball

• 3.61 GPA
• Accounting Major
• Dean’s List (4 semesters)
• Athletics Academic Honor Roll
• National Student-Athlete Development Conference Nominee
• SAAC Board member
• Habitat for Humanity Coordinator & Volunteer
• Relay for Life
• Special Olympics volunteer
• Just Read
• Race for the Cure
• Little Monster Mash
• Toys for Tots
• Evansville Rescue Mission Soup Kitchen
• Night of Memories
• Salvation Army Bell Ringer

John Navarro, Illinois State, Sr., Track & Field

• AFNI Honor Roll (every semester)
• MVC Honor Roll (every semester)
• Just Read
• PATH (192 hrs of service)
• Festival of Trees
• Recess Buddies

Kasey Kahle, Indiana State, So., Track & Field

• ADs Honor Roll (2009-2010)
• MVC Honor Roll (2009-2010)
• SAAC President
• “Go Figure” Program at Children’s Museum
• National Student-Athlete Day with the Terre Haute Boys & Girls Club
• Habitat for Humanity 
• Race for the Cure
• Raised money for Special Olympics
• MVC SAAC Representative

Emily Matthews, Missouri State, Jr., Golf

• 3.91 GPA
• Communications Science Disorders/Speech Language Pathology major
• ADs Honor Roll (2008-2010)
• Dean’s List (2009-2010)
• Member of Honors College
• SAAC and Intercollegiate Athletics Committee member
• Participated in Just Read and Adopt-a-Street programs
• Volunteered with Champion Athletes of the Ozarks
• Volunteers with junior golf organization

Eranne Daugharthy, UNI, Sr., Softball

• 2010 MVC Scholar-Athlete Team
• 2010 CoSIDA Academic All-District Softball Team
• Prairie Farms/MVC Scholar-Athlete of the Week (April 2010)
• UNI Dean’s List (Fall 2008-2009; Spring 2010; Fall 2010)
• Just Read participant
• Annual softball team volunteer work at the Northeast Iowa Food Bank
• Annual volunteer at National Girls & Women in Sports Day
• Ransom Memorial Hospital Volunteer 

Mallory Duran, Southern Illinois, Jr., Softball

• 4.0 GPA
• English Education major
• Dean’s List (5 semesters)
• MVC Honor Roll (Fall 08; Fall 09)
• SIU Athletics Saluki Scholar (2009-2010)
• MVC Scholar-Athlete Team (Spring 2010)
• MVC Commissioner’s Academic Excellence Award (2009-2010) 
• SAAC rep
• SIU Thank-a-Thon (2008-2009)
• SIU Athletics Halloween Bash (2008-2009; 2009-2010)
• SIU Athletics Santa’s Shoebox (2008-2009)
• Saluki Kids Night Out (2008-2009)
• SIU Varsity Club Host (2009-2010)
• Just Read participant
• SIU Athletics Talent Show to benefit Haiti Victims (2009-2010)
• Safe Halloween Event (2010-2011)

Brian Beachum, Wichita State, Sr., Track & Field

• 3.25 GPA
• Criminal Justice major
• Dean’s List (1 semester)
• ADs Honor Roll (3 semesters)
• Shocks, Cops & Kids
• Volunteer Speaker at Center for Health & Wellness
• Read Across America at Meade Middle School & Pleasant Valley Elementary School
• Allen Elementary Walk-A-Thon
• Just Read participant
• Wichita Prairie Fire Marathon volunteer
• Pen Pal Program with Goddard Intermediate Learning Center
• Volunteer at Lincoln Elementary