ST. LOUIS - 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 2019-20 Fall season.
This year's Fall honorees include Jacob Hoffert, Bradley, Men's Cross Country/Track; Vanessa Kavan, Drake, Women's Soccer; Zac Blaydes, Evansville, Men's Soccer; Stef Jankiewicz, Illinois State, Women's Volleyball; Dante Hendrix, Indiana State, Football; Max O'Meara, Loyola, Men's Cross Country; Shelby Palmer, Missouri State, Women's Cross Country; Sydney Hayden, Northern Iowa, Women's Soccer; Madeline (Lani) Cieszynski, Southern Illinois, Women's Swimming & Diving; Olivia Janke, Valparaiso, Women's Soccer
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.
Dante Hendrix, Indiana State, Football, Junior
Academic Achievements
- Fall 2017 – 3.74 (Deans List)
- Spring 2019 – 3.68 (Deans List)
- Spring 2018 – 3.62 (Deans List)
- Cumulative GPA – 3.58
- Fall 2018 – 3.28
- Missouri Valley Football Conference Academic Honor Roll
Community Service
- Happiness Bag (Spring 2019)
- Special Olympics (Summer 2019)
- Buddy Walk (Spring 2019)
- Terre Haute Boys and Girls Club (Fall 2019)
- Carination Cutting (Spring 2019)
- Down Syndrome Indiana (Spring 2018)
Jacob Hoffert, Bradley, Men's Cross Country/Track, Senior
Academic Achievements
- 3.73 Cumulative GPA in Manufacturing Engineering
- NCAA Division I All-Academic Men's Cross Country team (2017, 2018)
- NCAA Division I All-Academic Men's Track and Field team (2017)
- MVC Scholar-Athlete (Spring 2017, Spring 2018, Fall 2018)
- Bradley University Dean's List (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018)
- Bradley University Athletic Directors Honor Roll (2016, 2017, 2018)
- President of Bradley University Chapter of Materials Advantage
Community Service
- Habitat for Humanity – Thirteen (13) day construction work project in Clarksdale, Mississippi
- Sterling Middle School
- Woodrow Wilson School
- St. Mark's Church
- Illinois Valley Striders Half Marathon
- Bradley University Service on Saturday
- Bradley Cross Country Junior Day
- Yorkville Endurance Camp Guest Speaker
- Peoria Notre Dame Track and Field Guest Speaker
- Peoria South Side Mission
Vanessa Kavan, Drake, Women's Soccer, RS Senior
Academic Achievements
- 3.98 GPA in Marketing with a Minor in Graphic Design and Concentrations in Integrated Marketing Communications and Direct & Interactive Marketing
- 7-Time President's List Recipient
- Dean's List Recipient. MVC Scholar-Athlete First Team
- MVC President's Council Academic Award Recipient
- MVC Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award Recipient
- MVC Honor Roll
Community Service
- Courage League Sports
- Meals from the Heartland
- Food Bank of Iowa Combat Hunger Drive
- Sporting Iowa Pen Pal Mentor
- Above + Beyond Cancer
- Closing the Care Gap Marketing Campaign
- Breslyn's Blankets of Love
Zac Blaydes, Evansville, Men's Soccer, Senior
Academic Achievements
- Exercise Science, Pre Physical Therapy Major, with an Exercise & Sport Psychology Minor
- GPA 3.884
- UE Dean's List the past 8 Semesters
- 2 time UE Scholar Athlete
- 2016 MVC Scholar-Athlete Men's Soccer First Team
- 2017 MVC Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award
- 2017 MVC Honor Roll
- 2019 MVC Presidents Council Academic Excellence Award
Community Service
- UE SAAC Member
- Mickey's Kingdom
- Holiday Reading at Elementary Schools
- MLK Day Rally and March
- Reitz Memorial Walk
- YTBC
- Wesselman Woods
Stef Jankiewicz, Illinois State, Women's Volleyball, Junior
Academic Achievements
- 3.65 Student-Athlete, Criminal Justice Major, Spanish and Psychology Minor
- Enterprise MVC Scholar-Athlete Spotlight-10/9/2019
- MVC Commissioner's List-18-19 year
- MVC Honor Roll-17-18, 18-19
- AFNI Student-Athlete Honor Roll Every semester of career, FA17, SP18, FA18, SP19
Community Service
- MarcFirst Reach Your Potential Volunteer
- Oakdale Elementary Babysitting
- Miller Park Zoo Stampede
- Eastview Church Volunteer
- Illinois State University Bird Bash
- Illinois State University MVC SAAC Rep –FA18-Current
- Oakdale Elementary Mentor Program-FA18-Current
- Local Elementary School Recess/Lunch Buddies Program-FA18-Current
- Illinois State University Residence Hall Curb Birds Volunteer-FA 18-Current
Max O'Meara, Loyola, Men's Cross Country, Senior
Academic Achievements
- 3.885 GPA in Biochemistry, minor Philosophy
- Member of LUC fraternity Phi Delta Epsilon (professional pre-medical fraternity)
- Scored 518 on MCAT, within the 96th percentile nationally
- Inducted into the Marron & Gold society (recognizes rising seniors who have demonstrated commitment to leadership, academic excellence and service to others)
Community Service
- 311 hours of community service completed through various volunteering opportunities (most recent being the medical tent at the Chicago Marathon)
- Member of EMT staff on campus, also helping proctor LUC EMT classes
- Aids in hosting a fashion show every year where the proceeds go to Lurie Children's hospital and other childrens hospitals around the country
Shelby Palmer, Missouri State, Women's Cross Country, Junior
Academic Achievements
- Dean's List: Fall 2017, Spring 2018, Fall 2018, Spring 2019
- Athletic Director's Honor Roll: Fall 2017, Spring 2018, Fall 2018, Spring 2019
- Maroon & White Scholar-Athlete: Spring 2018, Spring 2019
- MVC Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award: 2019
- MVC Conference Honor Roll: 2018, 2019
Community Service
- Watershed Committee of the Ozarks
- Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count
- Missouri State University Culture Fair
- Mercy Children's Hospital
Sydney Hayden, Northern Iowa, Women's Soccer, Senior
Academic Achievements
- MVC Scholar-Athlete Honorable Mention- Spring 2018
- MVC Scholar-Athlete First Team- Fall 2017
- MVC Elite 17 Award- Fall 2017
- MVC Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award
- Dean's List- 2016-2019 terms
- MVC Honor Roll- 2016-2019 terms
Community Service
- Special Needs Prom, Night to Shine Ankeny IA
- Volunteered at Swim Meet
- Junior Panther Night— UNI Dome
- Stop and Serve- Made Workbooks and flashcards for refugees
- Special Olympics— UNI Dome
- Stop and Serve - Greeting cards for the senior center
- Rally in the Valley
- UNI Soccer ID Camp
- Panther Caravan
- UNI Soccer Camp Coaching
- Assisted with UNI Move-In Day
- Walk to end Alzheimers
- Walk to School Day
- PA Club Bickford Assisted Living Bingo Night
- Covenant Hospital Emergency Room Volunteer
- Junior Panther Night
- Wacky Winterfest @ Lincoln Elementary
- Special Olympics
- Packaged Meals for the Heartland
- 4-H Omelet breakfast
- UNI Soccer Camp Volunteer for New Hampton Soccer Program
- Assisted with UNI Freshman Move-in Day
- Walk to End Alzheimers
- MLK Day Packaging Meals for Food Bank
- UNI Dance Marathon Meet and Greet
- Special Olympics- UNI Dome
- Walk to End Alzheimers
- Unload food for Panther Pantry
Madeline (Lani) Cieszynski, Southern Illinois, Women's Swimming & Diving, Senior
Academic Achievements
- 3.61 GPA in Animal Science with a concentration in Science and Pre-Veterinary Agricultural Sciences
Community Service
- 20 hours of community service documented this semester
- Dedicated numerous hours to serving local animal shelters caring for pets without a home
- Boys and Girls Club volunteer in Carbondale
Olivia Janke, Valparaiso, Women's Soccer, RS Junior
Academic Achievements
- Full academic scholarship, Lutheran Leader Scholars
- Dean's List: Fall 2016, Spring 2017, Fall 2018
- Biology and Chemistry (Pre Med Track), 3.685 GPA
Community Service
- Valparaiso University Women's Soccer Team - Team Captain - Scholarship Athlete
- TEDxValparaisoUniversity2020 Director of Programming
- Love Your Melon Campus Crew Member -Raise money and awareness for childhood cancer
- Gamma Phi Beta Sorority - Various social and philanthropic events yearly
- Lead on VU Women's Soccer Team Fundraisers
- Alex's Lemonade Stand-funds raised in support of childhood cancer
- Nicaragua Youth National Team-funds raised to send the Nicaraguan Youth Soccer Team to Nationals
- VNA Hospice Center Volunteer - Attending to housed hospice patients for company, feeding among other needs as well as running the center's front desk (2017-Present)
- Ascension Lutheran Church Volunteer-Gary, IN (Oct 2018-Present)
- Dance Marathon Valparaiso University Fundraising Member
- Immanuel Lutheran Church Food Pantry Volunteer (2016-2017)
- Summer Soccer Skills Clinic for girls ages 9-14 (2014-2017)
