ST. LOUIS – Illinois State's Stef Jankiewicz has been selected as the female representative for this week's Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete Spotlight, presented by Enterprise Bank & Trust Company, the league office announced on Wednesday. This is the first time that the Farmington Hills, Michigan, native has been selected for the weekly honor by the conference.
A criminal justice major, and psychology and Spanish double minor, Jankiewicz has maintained a 3.67 cumulative grade-point average (GPA) and was named a recipient of the MVC Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award at the end of the 2018-19 school year. She has been placed on the MVC Honor Roll twice and is a four-time AFNI Honor Roll selection.
Outside of the classroom, Jankiewicz has been involved in the Bloomington-Normal and Illinois State campus communities. She is Illinois State's female MVC Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) representative, where she provides feedback on NCAA legislation on what is best for student-athletes, while also serving on the athletic department's leadership academy.
Jankiewicz has assisted with Redbird volleyball camps and has served as a volleyball official at Eastview Church. She has provided assistance to other ISU students on move-in day, volunteered to be a recess buddy and served as a mentor for a student at Oakdale Elementary School in town.
"I was a mentor at Oakdale Elementary with one specific student," Jankiewicz shared. "I was able to help her through whatever she needed and just be a friend to her, especially because sometimes it's harder for her in school to deal with different teachers or other students. I could be that one friend that is always there to support her."
To qualify for the MVC Scholar-Athlete Spotlight, student-athletes must carry a cumulative GPA of 3.20, completed at least one academic year at a Valley institution and must be at least a sophomore in academic standing. Redshirt freshmen and first-year junior college transfers are not eligible. In addition to academic qualifications, student-athletes are evaluated on their campus involvement and community service.
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