In an effort to honor model student-athletes, the Missouri Valley Conference has partnered with State Farm Insurance in creating the MVC Good Neighbor Award. Missouri State baseball player Chris Playter is among 10 student-athletes who have been named by Commissioner Doug Elgin as the honorees for this spring.

A fourth-year junior infielder from Raytown, Mo., Playter started 50 games for MSU this spring, batting .299 with 34 RBIs. He earned a spot on the MVC all-conference second team as a utility player, and has 12 steals and 48 runs scored to his credit as well.

Playter carries a 3.81 GPA in communications and has made the Dean’s List in seven semesters at MSU. He is a member of the Honors College and a President’s Scholarship recipient.

His off-the-field activities include the MVC State Farm Just Read Program, Adopt-A-Street, Baseball Youth Clinic, Habitat for Humanity, Adopt-A-Family and Bass Pro Rock n’ Ribs.

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.