UNI football's Brawntae Wells earns State Farm MVC Neighbor Award

ST. LOUIS - UNI's Brawntae Wells is being honored by the Missouri Valley Conference for his honorable achievements off the field.

In an effort to honor the achievements of exceptional student-athletes, the MVC has created the State Farm MVC Good Neighbor Award. Ten student-athletes have been named by Commissioner Jeff Jackson as the honorees for the 2021-22 fall season.

This year's fall honorees include Brawntae Wells, UNI, Football; Katherine Poore, Bradley, Volleyball; Meghan Brown, Drake, Women's Soccer; Hannah Watkins, Evansville, Volleyball; Ashley Santos, Illinois State, Women's Soccer; Madeline Williams, Indiana State, Volleyball; Abby Swanson, Loyola, Women's Soccer; Lillie Kaempfe, Missouri State, Women's Cross Country; Kailyn Stone, Southern Illinois, Women's Soccer; Rylee Cookerly, Valparaiso, Volleyball.

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.

Wells, a redshirt senior, is a defensive lineman from Des Moines, Iowa. He graduated from Des Moines Dowling Catholic High School and is majoring in family services. He is the son of Tanya Wells and Kevin Dunigan.

Brawntae Wells, UNI, Football, Senior

William V. Campbell Trophy Semifinalist
All-Academic MVFC Second Team Dean's List
Athletic Director's Honor Roll
MVFC Honor Roll
Community Service:
- Youth Mentor through the Juvenile Court Services
- Tomorrow's Leaders/Uplift Foundation, Center of Attention Youth Summer Program
- Tomorrow's Leader's Youth After School Program
- Central Iowa Juvenile Detention
- Minority Student-Athlete Leadership Team

Katherine Poore, Bradley, Volleyball, Senior

3.43 Cumulative GPA in Political Science (major) and Leadership Studies and Business Law (minor)
Braves Council Student-Athlete representative (2018-21)
Bradley Athletic Director Honor Roll (Spring 2020, Fall 2020, Spring 2021)
Bradley Country Financial Scholar-Athlete of the Week (October 2019)
MVC Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award (2021)
Missouri Valley Conference Honor Roll (2018-21)
Community Service
- Bradley Volleyball Mission Trip to Puerto Rico (2018)
- Bradley University Clean Up Crew
- Heart of Illinois Down Syndrome Association (2018, 2019)
- Lincoln Middle School Birthday Buddy (2018, 2019)
- Loaves and Fish Peoria
- Get Fit Stay Fit Fair (2018, 2019)
- Bradley Student-Athlete Picnic (2021)
- St. Mark School - National Read Across America Day
- Boys and Girls Club of Pekin
- Field Trip Game Volunteer for Bradley Women's Basketball (2019)

Meghan Brown, Drake, Women's Soccer, Junior

MVC Honor Roll
Drake University Dean's List
United Soccer Coaches College Women's Team Academic Award
Community Service
- Animal Rescue League
- Meals for Heartland
- Blank Children's Hospital
- Lutheran Church of Hope
- SAAC President-Elect at Drake University (2021-22)

Hannah Watkins, Evansville, Volleyball, Junior

3.647 Cumulative GPA
Dean's List (3x)
MVC Academic Honor Roll
MVC Scholar-Athlete Honorable Mention
Community Service
- UE SAAC Representative
- Key leader in Diversity and Inclusion in UE Athletics
- CHEMO Buddies
- Freshman Move-In Day
- YWCA
- Holiday Reading to Area Elementary Schools
- Volleyball Developmental Program
- Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Evansville
- Young & Established Evansville

Ashley Santos, Illinois State, Women's Soccer, Senior

4.00 Cumulative GPA in Mathematics/Mathematics Education
MVC Scholar-Athlete of the Year (2020-21)
CoSIDA Academic All-District Team (2020-21)
MVC Scholar-Athlete Team (2019, 2020)
AFNI Honor Roll (Every semester 2017-present)
MVC Honor Roll (Every semester 2017-present)
MVC President's List (Spring 2021)
MVC Commissioner's List (Fall 2018-Spring 2021)
Community Service
- Evergreen Senior Living Center
- Boys and Girls Club
- Bingo and Cards Assisted Living
- Bring It Back to Normal Event
- Springfield Special Olympics
- Teamwork Talk and Soccer Skills Assembly Volunteer
- Soccer Clinic
- Movie Night
- Hog Roast
- Alzheimer's Run
- AFNI Dinner
- Play 4 Kay
- Bloomington High School

Madeline Williams, Indiana State, Volleyball, Senior

3.59 Cumulative GPA in Marketing
Athletic Director Honor Roll (every semester)
Community Service:
- FCA

Abby Swanson, Loyola, Women's Soccer, Senior

CoSIDA Academic All-District (2020-21)
MVC Scholar-Athlete (2020-21)
MVC Honor Roll (3x)
Player Award of Distinction from the US Soccer Coaches (2020-21)
Community Service:
- Public Action to Deliver Shelter (PADS)
- Lakeview Pantry
- Habitat for Humanity
- St. Paul Lutheran Church
- Camp Hope

Lillie Kaempfe, Missouri State, Cross Country, Sophomore

3.57 Cumulative GPA
Dean's List (Spring 2021)
MVC Honor Roll (2020-21)
Athletic Director's Honor Roll (Fall 2020, Spring 2021)
Maroon & White Scholar-Athlete (Spring 2021)
Community Service:
- GLO Center
- National Guard
- Psychology Club (Fundraising & Volunteer Coordinator)
- ROTC
- Veteran Student Center

Kailyn Stone, Southern Illinois, Women's Soccer, Senior

3.90 Cumulative GPA in Political Science and Languages, Cultures and International Studies
United Soccer Coaches Team Academic Award (2020, 2021)
MVC Commissioners Academic Excellence Award (2019-20, 2020-21)
MVC Good Neighbor Award Winner (Spring 2021)
SIU Dean's List (2019-20)
Community Service:
- SIU SAAC President (2020-21)
- SIU SAAC Representative (2019-20)
- Organizing the Green Bandana Project (2021)
- Participated in Military Deployment Ceremony (2019)
- Southern Illinois Clean-Up Day (2020)
- Boys & Girls Club Power Hour
- Saluki Unity Run/Walk for Boys & Girls Club Carbondale (2020)
- Football Training Camp (2020)
- Organized Mental Health Awareness Week (2020)

Rylee Cookerly, Valparaiso, Volleyball, Senior

3.96 Cumulative GPA
MVC Scholar-Athlete of the Year (2020-21)
MVC First Team Scholar-Athlete (3x)
CoSIDA Second Team Academic All-America (2x)
Community Service:
- Hilltop Neighborhood Food House
- Cafe Manna
- Valparaiso SAAC

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