ST. LOUIS, Mo. – In an effort to honor the achievements of exceptional student-athletes, the Missouri Valley Conference has created the State Farm MVC Good Neighbor Award.  Twelve student-athletes have been named by Commissioner Jeff Jackson as the honorees for the 2025 Spring season.

Drake graduate student Anastasia Kirillov, a member of the Bulldog cross country and track and field teams, has been named Drake's recipient of the spring season State Farm MVC Good Neighbor Award.
 
Kirillov, native of Buenos Aires, Argentina, is pursuing degrees in Chemistry and Pharmacy at Drake University. She has been included on the President's List for academic success every semester from Fall 2020-Fall 2024 and Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award from 2021-24.
 
Kirillov has been active in the Des Moines community as a volunteer with the pharmacy team at the Iowa Mission of Mercy Dental Clinic where she counseled patients on prescribed medication and served as a Spanish language translator. She also administered flu shots at the APhA Immunization Clinic at Drake University and provided weekly tutoring to pre-pharmacy and pharmacy students as a member of the Rho Chi Pharmacy Honor Society.
 
Kirillov's community service efforts are not only limited to health care. She has assisted with the high jump event at the AAU Junior Olympics at Drake Stadium, participated in Girls on the Run of Central Iowa, and volunteered at multiple events during the Drake Relays and the Jim Duncan Invitational.

This year's Spring honorees include Brenna Blume, Belmont, Softball; Timmy O'Brien, Bradley, Baseball; Ana Kirillov, Drake, Women's Cross Country and Track; Alejandro Navarette, Evansville, Men's Track & Field; Luke Malone, UIC, Men's Track; Delainey Bryant, Illinois State, Softball; Yang Tai, Indiana State, Women's Golf; Amy Henning, Missouri State, Tennis; Preston Chaudoin, Murray State, Baseball; MaKenna Kuper, Northern Iowa, Softball; Joshua Delgado, Southern Illinois, Men's Track & Field; Kade Reinertson, Valparaiso, Baseball.

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 12 student-athletes three times annually (Fall, Winter, Spring), for a total of 36 honorees.  Institutions select their State Farm MVC Good Neighbor Award honorees.