Ian Alberts, Caitlin O’Donnell and Brock Wandel recognized
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Three University of Evansville student-athletes were recognized on Tuesday when the Missouri Valley Conference announced the recipients of the State Farm MVC Good Neighbor Awards for the 2020-21 season.
Earning the award for the Purple Aces were Ian Alberts of the track and field team, women’s golfer Caitlin O’Donnell and Brock Wandel from the UE men’s soccer squad. 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.
Ian Alberts is a senior who has made the Dean’s List in seven semesters in his time at the University of Evansville. The Biology major has recorded a 4.0 GPA while earning MVC Scholar-Athlete recognition. Alberts has served numerous hours at local middle and high school cross country and track & field meets. He participated in the UE Barn Blitz to benefit Habitat for Humanity and took part in the Aces Holiday Reading Program where he read books to local Evansville elementary schools.
Junior Caitlin O’Donnell has a 3.636 GPA in Exercise Science and has been recognized as a WGCA All-American Scholar-Athlete. O’Donnell has been named to the Dean’s List four times and is active around campus and in the community. The SAAC representative has spent time volunteering with Vogel School tutoring, YMCA mentoring and UE Holiday Reading Day. She has done a great deal of work with UE Athletics Diversity and Inclusion while assisting with the Social Justice Campaign within the UE athletic department.
Brock Wandel, who is a sophomore at UE, has made the Dean’s List on three occasions and has a perfect 4.0 GPA majoring in Accounting and Management. He started a winter snow removal team on the UE campus to raise funds for Habitat for Humanity. The group traveled around the Evansville community to remove snow from driveways and walkways with all funds going to Habitat for Humanity. The SAAC representative has also volunteered with Holy Rosary, EB Walk, Breast Cancer Philanthropy, Easter Seals of Evansville and the USO Bucket Shake.
