University of Evansville women’s soccer player Kellee Widener (McKinney, Texas/McKinney) has been chosen as one of 10 recipients of the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Good Neighbor Award for her efforts both on and off the field.

Widener holds a 3.81 grade-point-average in marketing and has been named to the Dean’s list and the Student-Athlete Honor Roll for six consecutive semesters. She was also the 2007-08 recipient of the MVC Commissioner’s Academic Excellence Award and is one of the Aces’ team captains this season.

Widener is also a member of the Student-Athlete Academic Advisory where she is both the MVC representative and the UE coordinator for Just Read, which is a program that gives student-athletes a way to promote reading in schools.

Among her many other extracurricular activities, Widener participates in a pen pal program with a local elementary school, volunteers as a Salvation Army bell ringer, and helps lead free soccer clinics for Evansville youth. She is also active in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, Toys for Tots, Habitat for Humanity, United Way Day of Caring, and Read Across America.

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.