University of Northern Iowa Athletics
Austin Phyfe receives State Farm MVC Good Neighbor Award
3/24/2022 11:04:00 AM | Men's Basketball
ST. LOUIS --- UNI men's basketball's Austin Phyfe has been selected as one of 10 Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) recipients of the State Farm MVC Good Neighbor Award for the 2021-22 winter sports season, as announced by the league on Thursday morning.
In order to be eligible for the award, student-athletes 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 MVC 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.
Phyfe, a senior from Waverly, Iowa, is currently studying elementary and middle level education at UNI, maintaining a 3.66 grade-point average (4.0 scale). A two-time MVC First Team Scholar-Athlete, Phyfe has been named to the Dean's List for the last 3 years, and also been selected to the Athletic Director's Honor Roll. An active member of the community, Phyfe has helped at local elementary school basketball workouts, serves as a pen pal and reads to children in the Cedar Valley area. Phyfe also participates in the Adopt A Panther program, where he visits area schools to talk about what it means to be a good teammate.
Phyfe averaged 5.4 points per game appearing in 30 games this season for the Panthers, helping UNI secure the program's fourth MVC regular season title in school history. The 6' 9" forward was also named as one of 30 candidates for the Senior CLASS Award earlier this season, recognizing NCAA Division I senior student-athletes for their achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition.
Other winter sport honorees of the State Farm MVC Good Neighbor Award include…
Phyfe is the son of Steve and Lisa Phyfe of Waverly. His father, Steve, was a standout forward for the Panther men's basketball team from 1987 to 1990, while his sister, Aftin, was also a member of the UNI swimming and diving team from 2013 to 2017.
In order to be eligible for the award, student-athletes 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 MVC 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.
Phyfe, a senior from Waverly, Iowa, is currently studying elementary and middle level education at UNI, maintaining a 3.66 grade-point average (4.0 scale). A two-time MVC First Team Scholar-Athlete, Phyfe has been named to the Dean's List for the last 3 years, and also been selected to the Athletic Director's Honor Roll. An active member of the community, Phyfe has helped at local elementary school basketball workouts, serves as a pen pal and reads to children in the Cedar Valley area. Phyfe also participates in the Adopt A Panther program, where he visits area schools to talk about what it means to be a good teammate.
Phyfe averaged 5.4 points per game appearing in 30 games this season for the Panthers, helping UNI secure the program's fourth MVC regular season title in school history. The 6' 9" forward was also named as one of 30 candidates for the Senior CLASS Award earlier this season, recognizing NCAA Division I senior student-athletes for their achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition.
Other winter sport honorees of the State Farm MVC Good Neighbor Award include…
- Riley Burger, Men's Basketball – Bradley
- ShanQuan Hemphill, Men's Basketball – Drake
- Maggie Franz, Women's Swimming & Diving – Evansville
- Julie Kolar, Women's Swimming & Diving – Illinois State
- Mia Mackenzie, Women's Indoor Track & Field – Indiana State
- Chantz Visse, Men's Indoor Track & Field – Loyola-Chicago
- Samantha Roemer, Women's Swimming & Diving – Missouri State
- Caitlin Link, Women's Basketball – Southern Illinois
- Alex Trafton, Men's Indoor Track & Field - Valparaiso
Phyfe is the son of Steve and Lisa Phyfe of Waverly. His father, Steve, was a standout forward for the Panther men's basketball team from 1987 to 1990, while his sister, Aftin, was also a member of the UNI swimming and diving team from 2013 to 2017.
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