Makenna Kuper named State Farm MVC Good Neighbor

ST. LOUIS — UNI softball outfielder Makenna Kuper was recognized by the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) on Wednesday morning as one of 12 student-athletes from around the league of the State Farm MVC Good Neighbor Award for the 2024-25 Spring sports season.

The winners, selected by MVC Commissioner Jeff Jackson, are recognized for good academic standing through the demonstration of sportsmanship and other significant community service. 36 MVC student-athletes are honored during the school year, one from each conference institution for the fall, winter and spring seasons.

Kuper, a senior from Ackley, Iowa, is a three-time MVC Dean's list, two-time MVC Honor Roll, two-time MVC Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award, an MVC Board of Directors honoree in 2024 and an Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete in 2022. Makenna is the Logistics Chair of the Cedar Valley Heart Walk and the UNI softball Volunteer Coordinator.

The 2024-25 Spring sport honorees of the State Farm MVC Good Neighbor Award include:

Brenna Blume, Belmont, Softball, Junior
Timmy O'Brien, Bradley, Baseball, Senior
Ana Kirillov, Drake, Women's Cross Country and Track, Graduate Pharmacy Student
Alejandro Navarette, Evansville, Men's Track & Field, Sophomore
Luke Malone, UIC, Men's Track, Senior
Delainey Bryant, Illinois State, Softball, Senior
Yang Tai, Indiana State, Women's Golf, Junior
Amy Henning, Missouri State, Tennis, Senior
Preston Chaudoin, Murray State, Baseball, Junior
Makenna Kuper, Northern Iowa, Softball, Senior
Joshua Delgado, Southern Illinois, Men's Track & Field, Senior
Kade Reinertson, Valparaiso, Baseball, Graduate Student

UNI softball action can be followed all season long on social media on Facebook (UNI Softball), X (@UNISoftball), and on Instagram (@unisoftball). The 2025 schedule and roster, along with the latest Panther news and information can be found online at UNIpanthers.com.

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