MVC Release

ST. LOUIS – After a phenomenal season, both in the classroom and the pool, Missouri State women's swimming and diving senior Loretta Stelnicki has been awarded the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Good Neighbor Award, announced Wednesday by league Commissioner Doug Elgin.

Stelnicki, who carries a 3.80 GPA, recently helped Missouri State earn its 15^th championship title in program history. Her efforts included an individual win in the 100 backstroke and runner-up in the 100 freestyle. She also played a crucial role in all three of the Bears' freestyle relay wins. This season, she also served as one of the senior captains.  
 
The Inverness, Ill. native is a three-time MVC Scholar-Athlete honoree, and has made the dean's list every semester. She was also awarded the MVC Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award in 2017.

Stelnicki is making a difference in the Springfield area as a member of Buddy Bears, which works alongside at-risk students at Reed Academy. She also volunteers her time at charity events including Special Olympics, Adopt-A-Street, Take Back the Night, and Feed My Starving Children.

The MVC created the award in an effort to honor the achievements of exceptional student-athletes. 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 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
Spring 2015-16 – Caroline Boone, Jr., women's golf
Fall 2016-17 – Shelby Harris, Sr., football
Winter 2016-17 – Brandon Weissman, Sr., men's swimming & diving
Spring 2016-17 – Alex Jefferson, Sr., baseball
Fall 2017-18 – Lily Johnson, Sr., volleyball
Winter 2017-18 -- Christopher Heye, Sr., men's swimming & diving
Spring 2018 – Claire Schwarz, Sr., cross country
Fall 2018 – Kaitlin Maxwell, So., women's soccer
Winter 2019 – Loretta Stelnicki, Sr., swimming &: diving