Kelowna Ngoyi of the Southern Illinois Salukis women’s basketball team was named the university’s recipient of the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) Good Neighbor Award for the winter season, according to an April 24 announcement from the conference.
The award recognizes student-athletes who demonstrate excellence both on and off the court. Ngoyi, a sophomore majoring in Computer Science with a 3.91 GPA, is set to graduate in May and has been on the Dean’s List every semester so far. She was also included on the 2024-25 MVC Honor Roll.
Ngoyi has contributed to several community service projects, including participating in local clean-up efforts through Don’t Dirty the Dale, visiting residents at Prairie Living Nursing Home, helping with fundraising for Special Olympics Adopt-A-Duck campaign, volunteering at Lewis Elementary School recesses, joining in the 9/11 Stair Climb Challenge, and assisting at Vacation Bible School at Hopewell Baptist Church.
On court performance includes making 24 appearances for Southern Illinois this season and earning a place on the MVC Scholar-Athlete Team. The Southern Illinois Salukis women’s basketball team competes at NCAA Division I level as part of its membership in the Missouri Valley Conference according to its official website. The program operates out of Carbondale, Illinois and hosts home games at Banterra Center according to its official website.
The recognition highlights both academic achievement and community involvement among student-athletes within collegiate sports programs.
