Elson Claims MVC's Good Neighbor Award for Spring
5/15/2009 10:30:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Creighton men's tennis player Michael Elson has been honored with the MVC State Farm Good Neighbor Award for Spring 2009. Elson, a senior from Sioux Falls, S.D., played primarily at No. 6 singles and No. 1 doubles during the recently completed season.
In an effort to honor model student-athletes, the Missouri Valley Conference, in partnership with State Farm, has created the MVC State Farm Good Neighbor Award. Ten student-athletes have been named by Commissioner Doug Elgin as the honorees for this spring.
Spring honorees include Adam Kimble, Bradley; Michael Elson, Creighton; Chelsea Smith, Drake; Lissa Fehlman, Evansville; Mike Stalowy, Illinois State; Breanne Smith, Indiana State; Jen Carr, Missouri State; Kelly Papesh, UNI; Katie Schmidt, Southern Illinois; and Torrie Browning, Wichita State.
Winter honorees included Jenny Van Kirk, Bradley; Kenton Walker, Creighton; Matt Jurysta, Drake; Shannon Novosel, Evansville; Kristi Cirone, Illinois State; Kelsey Luna, Indiana State; Roxy Stiles, Missouri State; Abby Girard, UNI; Kelly Dvorak, Southern Illinois; Marcy Sudbeck, Wichita State
Fall honorees included Brian Lock, Bradley; Jeff Thayer, Creighton; Theodore Scheisman, Drake; Kellee Widener, Evansville; MC Richmond, Illinois State; Kelli Whitaker, Indiana State; David Arkin, Missouri State; Ben Schmidt, Northern Iowa; Larry Warner, Southern Illinois; Katie Niggemeyer, Wichita State
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!"
Adam Kimble, Bradley, Baseball, Sr.
Cumulative GPA: 3.44
Major GPA: 3.72
MVC Honor Roll 2006, 2007, 2008
Bradley Athletic Director's Honor Roll 7 semesters
President of Braves Council (SAAC)
Nominated to NCAA Leadership Conference
Member of LINCS (Leaders Instilling Knowledge through Cooperative Service)
Member of Student Advisory Committee
Member of Student Leader Board
Student member of IAC
Participated in MVC-State Farm's ?Just Read'
Participated in Buddy with the Braves (mentoring program to grade school class)
Volunteer for Easter Seals Telethons
Salvation Army bell-ringer
Volunteer at American Red Cross Blood Drives
Volunteer at St. Mary's Parish in Minooka, IL
Michael Elson, Creighton, Men's Tennis, Sr.
BSBA in Management, HR specialization
Graduating with honors (3.77 cum GPA)
Dean's List all 8 semesters
SAAC President
Chaired
community service event “Night with the Jays” that involved over 200
Omaha kids and raised about $1500 for a local homeless shelter
Organized a group of Student Athletes to be mentors for All Our Kids
Several other projects
Chelsea Smith, Drake, Crew, Jr.
majoring in Bio Chemistry/Molecular Biology with minors in English and Business
3.13 overall GPA
Main organizer the SAAC first ever Student-Athlete Talent Show/Can Food Drive where
SAAC
collected over 200 can food items and SAAC won the Student Organization
division award for the most collected can for the Drake Live Drive
Lissa Fehlman, Evansville, Softball, Sr.
Maintains a 3.76 GPA
Two time recipient of MVC Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award
University's Dean list six consecutive semesters
Named to the Student-Athlete Academic Honor Roll six consecutive semesters (3.5 GPA and above)
2008 MVC Scholar-Athlete Team
Member of the 2008 UE Softball team that was a NFCA Girls Got Game Top 10 Academic Team
Received the Prairie Farms MVC Student-Athlete of the Week in 2007 and 2009
Candidate (1 of 30 nationwide) for the Lowe's Senior Class Award
SAAC
Just Read
Susan G. Komen for the Cure Volunteer
Multiple Sclerosis walk
Adopted a family for Thanksgiving
Organized the colon cancer awareness event at a softball game
Initiated the formation of the Students with Ailing Mothers and Fathers at UE and serves as President
Helped coordinate fundraiser for the Special Olympics softball
Toys for Tots
Salvation Army Bell Ringer
Mike Stalowy, Illinois State, Baseball, Sr.
Accepted into the Field of Education
AFNI Honor Roll Member
MVC Player of Week April 13
SAAC Officer 2008-present
SAAC Member 2006-present
State Farm/MVC Just Read Program
Christmas for Kids
American Red Cross Blood Drive
Thanksgiving Food Drive for Food Drive
Heritage Manor
Big Brothers and Big Sister
American Red Cross Blood Drive
Reggie Fun Zone
Organized several community service projects for Baseball Team
Breanne Smith, Indiana State, Women's Golf, Jr.
3.57 Cumulative GPA
MVC Commissioner's Honor Roll Fall 2007 & 2008
Athletic Director & MVC Honor Rolls 2007-2008
Dean's List College of Education 2007, 2008
Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award 2007-08
Kappa Delta Pi Community Service Group and International Honor Society in Education
Sigma Alpha Lambda National Leadership and Honors Association
National Golf Coaches Association 2007-08 Division I All-Scholar Team
Pi Lambda Theta International Honor Society and Professional Association in Education
SAAC
Mentor to freshmen student-athletes
Just Read Program 2006
Willamette Valley Junior Tournament volunteer
Tee It Up volunteer
Stone Creek Golf Course Junior Golf Camp volunteer
Jen Carr, Missouri State, Softball, Sr.
MVC Honor Roll ? 6 out of 8 semesters
Accepted into six law schools; Offered academic scholarships to two law schools
Member of Phi Alpha Delta ? Pre Law Academic Fraternity
Participated in Adopt-a-street, cleaning of local streets around campus.
Vacation Bible School Volunteer
Participated in the MVC Just Read Program
Tour Of Missouri Bike Race Volunteer
Assisted with Adopt-a-family, helping a needy family over the holidays.
Volunteered with Relay for Life
Assisted with Canned Food Drives for the homeless
Kelly Papesh, UNI, Softball, Sr.
Panther Impact Award
Honor Roll
UNI SAAC
Character Counts
Just Read
Katie Schmidt, Southern Illinois, Softball, Sr.
Dean's list every semester at SIU
2007-2008 Missouri Valley Conference Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award
2008-2009 Missouri Valley Conference Honor Roll
2007-2008, Missouri Valley Conference President's Council Academic Excellence Award
2006-2007 Missouri Valley Conference Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award
2006-2007 Missouri Valley Conference Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award
2005-2006 Missouri Valley Conference Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award
2006-2007 Missouri Valley Conference Honor Roll
2005-2006 Missouri Valley Conference Honor Roll
2005, 2006, 2007 Parrish School Pumpkin Festival volunteer
2008, 2009 Saluki Kids Night Out Volunteer
2005, 2006 Trick or Treat for Can Goods volunteer
2008 Food for Families Food Drive volunteer
2006, 2007 MVC State Farm Just Read participate
2009 Parrish School Sports Festival Volunteer
2008 Saluki Halloween Bash volunteer
2006, 2007, 2008 Santa's Shoebox
2008 Christmas Caroling at Memorial hospital of Carbondale
2008, 2009 Relay for Life/ Strike Out Cancer Softball Game
2008 Jonesboro Saluki Day Volunteer
Torrie Browning, Wichita State, Women's Tennis, Sr.
3.288 GPA, Communication-Integrated Marketing Major
Missouri Valley Conference “Just Read” Program
“Rock w/ the Shocks” Character Education Workshop
Goddard Intermediate Learning Center Pen Pal Program
Missouri Valley Conference Student-Athlete Advisory Committee
Wichita State University Student-Athlete Advisory Committee
USTA “Tennis” Block Party
Ronald McDonald House
Salvation Army Christmas Adopt-A-Family
Via Christi Employee Tennis Clinics
Boys & Girls Club Tennis Clinics
Players Mentioned
