ST. LOUIS, Mo. -

MVC Release

Junior women's golfer Caroline Boone has been named Missouri State's spring recipient of the 2015-16 State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Good Neighbor Award, the league announced Friday. The award was created by The Valley in an effort to honor the achievements of exceptional student-athletes.

Boone compiled a career-best 77.73 scoring average this past season and ranked 13th in the MVC. She turned in a career-best performance at the Rio Verde Invitational to open the spring season, finishing third in a field of 96 players, shooting 74-72-73--219 and being named conference Golfer of the Week. She finished fourth on the team in scoring average for the season and sports a career scoring mark of 79.81 in 65 rounds. Boone played in every tournament for the Bears as a freshman, averaging 82.10, and tallied a 78.07 mark a year ago as a sophomore.

A native of Wynne, Ark., Boone maintains a 3.33 grade point average while majoring in Child and Family Development. She was named to the Dean's List last spring, is a four-time Maroon & White Scholar Athlete and has been on the Missouri State Athletic Director's Honor Roll six times.

Boone has been active in the community during her time at MSU, volunteering numerous hours at the Jane Pitt Pediatric Cancer Center at Mercy Hospital and pediatric floor at Cox Hospital. She is a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and has volunteered for the Salvation Army, Ronald McDonald Houses at Mercy and Cox, Ozarks Food Harvest, Bears Read and junior golf programs both in Springfield and her hometown.

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 recognizes 10 student-athletes three times annually (fall, winter, spring), for a total of 30 honorees. Institutions select their State Farm MVC Good Neighbor Award honorees.

Previous Missouri State winners of the MVC Leadership and Service Award are:

Fall 2007 - Carrie Vestal, Sr., women's cross country
Winter 2007-08 - Amy Crowder, Sr., women's swimming & diving
Spring 2008 - Chris Playter, Jr., baseball
Fall 2008 - David Arkin, So., football
Winter 2008-09 - Roxy Stiles, Jr., women's basketball
Spring 2009 - Jen Carr, Sr., softball
Fall 2009 - Terry Phillips, So., women's cross country
Winter 2009-10 - Will Creekmore, Jr., men's basketball
Spring 2010 - Scott Glenn, Jr., men's golf
Fall 2010 - Heath Melugin, Jr., men's soccer
Winter 2010-11 - Rene Smith, Sr., women's swimming & diving
Spring 2011 - Emily Matthews, Jr., women's golf
Fall 2011 - Ashlee Mason, So., volleyball
Winter 2011-12 - Christiana Shorter, Jr., women's basketball
Spring 2012 - Emily Beaver, Jr., women's track/cross country
Fall 2012 - Chelsea Voet, Sr., women's soccer
Winter 2012-13 - Jared Roberts, Jr., men's swimming & diving
Spring 2013 - Kimsue Grant, Sr., track & field
Fall 2013 - Caleb Schaffitzel, Jr., football
Winter 2013-14 - Bryonna Snow, Sr., women's basketball
Spring 2014 - Eric Straub, Sr., men's golf
Fall 2014 - Leah Reitmayer, Jr., field hockey
Winter 2014-15 - Tyler McCullough, So., men's basketball
Spring 2015 - Ali Trickey, Sr., softball
Fall 2015 - Tenaly Smith, Sr., cross country
Winter 2015-16 - Ibby Simcox, Sr., women's swimming & diving