ST. LOUIS  – Illinois State junior men's basketball student-athlete Matt Chastain has been named as one of 10 honorees for the State Farm MVC Good Neighbor Award.
In an effort to honor the achievements of exceptional student-athletes, the Missouri Valley Conference has created the State Farm MVC Good Neighbor Award, as ten student-athletes have been named by MVC Commissioner Doug Elgin as the honorees for the 2019-20 winter season.
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, and spring) for a total of 30 honorees. Institutions select their State Farm MVC Good Neighbor Award honorees.
Chastain has seen action in just 17 games this season due to injury and has started four times. He scored a season-high 12 points in his season debut against UCF and is averaging 3.3 points and 2.6 rebounds per game to go with 21 assists, nine steals, and six blocked shots.
Off the court, he is working on his undergraduate and graduate degrees simultaneously and is expected to graduate next may with a bachelor's and master's degree in professional accountancy. He was twice named to the MVC Honor Roll and has been a four-time member of the AFNI Student-Athlete honor roll.
His numerous community service appearances include Walk a Mile in Her Shoes, "Choose to Shine" Down Syndrome Fashion Show, YMCA Kick-Off, WSF Thank-A-Thon, Day of Dozier, 100 Caring Adults, Sheridan Welcome Back Parade, First Star Academy, Free Basketball Clinic, Community Kids Holiday Party, and the Central Illinois Down Syndrome Organization (CIDSO) Buddy Walk.
The Redbirds return to action on Saturday, February 29, when the Redbirds travel to Evansville, Indiana, to take on the Evansville Aces on Leap Day, with a 1 p.m. tip-off at the Ford Center.
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