ST. LOUIS, MO. - Deidra Dirth (Apple Valley, Minn.), who is a senior on the Drake women's track and field team, was one of 10 student athletes who were named recipients of the Missouri Valley Conference State Farm Good Neighbor Award following the winter semester.

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. 

Dirth, a member of the Drake Student-Athlete Advisory Council, organized the 2009 Drake Athletic Charity Ball and Toys for Tots Fundraiser. She is vice-president of the Drake Sports Business Association.

The two-time co-captain of the Drake women's track and field team is a Drake Presidential Scholar recipient and was named to the Psi Chi National Honor Society in psychology.

Dirth is a graduate of the Drake Adams Leadership Academy and recipient of the top junior leadership award. She also is an Emerging Leaders Model mentor at Drake and a student leader in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

She was named to the 2009 MVC Track and Field Scholar-Athlete team.

Dirth is a Des Moines Sports Commission Board member and has been a member of the National Society for Human Resource Management Professional Research in Psychology since 2008.