May 14, 2009
NORMAL, Ill. - Illinois State senior second baseman Mike Stalowy was named a recipient of the Missouri Valley Conference Good Neighbor Award for the spring season, as announced by the league office Thursday. Stalowy was one of ten student athletes, one from each member institution, to be honored as a model student-athlete by the Valley.
Stalowy is the Redbirds' leading hitter with a .333 batting average and 37 runs scored. Twenty of Stalowy's 54 hits have gone for extra-bases, including a career-best four triples and the first three home runs of his career. The Joliet, Ill. native went 3-for-4 with a home run and two doubles off the wall in the return to his hometown Tuesday as the Redbirds dropped a 14-8 decision to Notre Dame. Stalowy earned Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week honors April 13.
In addition to being a leader on the field of play, Stalowy has been an exemplary leader in the classroom and community. While at ISU, Stalowy has been a member of the AFNI Honor Roll and served as a member and officer of the Student Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC). Stalowy has also been an active participant in the State Farm/MVC Just Read Program, Christmas for Kids, Thanksgiving Food Drive and coordinated the baseball team's American Red Cross Blood Drive. He's worked with Heritage Manor and Big Brother's and Big Sisters.
Other spring honorees include Adam Kimble (Bradley), Michael Elfon (Creighton), Chelsea Smith (Drake), Lissa Fehlman (Evansville), Breanne Smith (Indiana State), Jen Carr (Missouri State), Kelly Papesh (UNI), Katie Schmidt (Southern Illinois), and Torrie Browning (Wichita State). Illinois State's Kristi Cirone and M.C. Richmond earned Good Neighbor Awards for the winter and fall, respectively.
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!"
Illinois State closes the regular season portion of its schedule with a three-game series at home against SIU-Edwardsville (May 15-17). Prior to Saturday's 4 p.m. contest, Illinois State Athletics will honor the Redbirds' 1969 College Division National Championship Team and celebrate its 40th anniversary. Prior to Sunday's contest, the Redbirds' senior class will be recognized.
