University of Hawai'i women's sailor Molly O'Bryan and men's basketball player Predrag Savovic were named the 2002 Jack Bonham Award winners in recognition for their outstanding performances on and off the playing field. The announcement was made today at the annual Scholar-Athlete Breakfast at the Stan Sheriff Center.
The award is given annually to the top male and female senior athlete who “best exemplifies the ideals for which Jack Bonham stood for in the areas of athletic excellence, academic achievement, public service, leadership and character.”
A fifth-year senior for the women's sailing team, O'Bryan was a member of the school's inaugural women's squad. She has helped the team to two Pacific Coast Intercollegiate Yachting Association Women's Championships and the program's first National Championship last season. She was twice named All-American and in addition is an integral part of the co-ed team, which finished sixth in the Team Racing Nationals last year. Away from the waters, O'Bryan has volunteered with youth sailing groups around the island and has been a guest speaker at a number of Hawai'i Women's Yacht racing functions and various high schools, promoting the sport of sailing to Hawai'i's youth. A double major in political science and sociology, she will graduate this spring.
In three seasons at UH, Savovic ranks among the program's all-time best players while achieving academic success. Savovic was a three-time all-Western Athletic Conference selection and this season, became the program's fourth All-American. He has helped the Rainbow Warriors to consecutive WAC Tournament championships and NCAA Tournament appearances. For his work in the classroom, Savovic earned academic all-district honors twice and became the program's first Academic All-American this year. In addition, has also spoken at numerous schools and groups, stressing the importance of education, drug, alcohol, and violence prevention, and promoting leadership and character development. A native of Herceg Novi, Yugoslavia, Savovic will graduate this spring with degrees in international business and finance.
Considered the most prestigious award in University of Hawai'i athletics, the Bonham Award is named for the late assistant athletics director who was killed in 1974 in a plane crash in America Samoa. Bonham was returning to the islands from New Zealand where he was on a recruiting trip at the British Commonwealth Games.
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