March 10, 2010
ST. LOUIS, Mo. -
Illinois State senior swimmer Amy Werkema was honored as one of 10 Missouri Valley Conference State Farm Good Neighbor Award winners for the winter session by Commissioner Doug Elgin, as announced by the league office Wednesday.
In an effort to honor model student-athletes, the Missouri Valley Conference, in partnership with State Farm, created the MVC State Farm Good Neighbor Award. The Valley recognizes 10 student-athletes three times annually (fall, winter, spring), for a total of 30 honorees.
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.
Werkema, who just completed her final season of eligibility at Illinois State, has been a member of the AFNI Athletics Honor Roll every semester of her time at ISU and has also been named to the MVC Honor Roll. An All-Missouri Valley Conference Honorable Mention and Scholar-Athlete Team selection during her sophomore season in 2007-08, Werkema has also been an active member of the Illinois State Student Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC).
The Clarendon Hills, Ill., native carries a 3.53 cumulative grade point average (GPA) in elementary education and has participated in several community service projects, including the Just Read! Program, Recess Buddies, Christmas for Kids, Relay for Life, American Red Cross Evening with the Stars and the Reggie Fun Zone.
Other honorees for the winter include Renee Frericks (Bradley), Megan Neuvirth (Creighton), Diedra Dirth (Drake), Amy Gallagher (Evansville), Kelsie Cooley (Indiana State), Will Creekmore (Missouri State), Jacqui Kalin (Northern Iowa), Malaikah Love (Southern Illinois), and Marisah Henderson (Wichita State).
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!"
