HONOLULU – University of Hawai'i women's diver Emma Friesen and football player Kealoha Pilares were the recipients of the 2011 Jack Bonham Award in recognition of their outstanding performances on and off the playing field. The announcement was made Tuesday night at the annual Scholar-Athlete Dinner at the Stan Sheriff Center.

The award is given annually to the top male and female senior student-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.”

Friesen, a 2008 NCAA champion in the 1-meter springboard, was a four-time All-American who qualified for the NCAA Championships four times during her career. A two-time Western Athletic Conference Diver of the Year and 2008 NCAA Diver of the Year, she was a six-time WAC champion in both the 1-meter and 3-meter events. She was also the recipient of the 2008 Joe Kearney Award as the WAC's top female athlete. A member of the Canadian National Diving team, Friesen has numerous international experience, having placed sixth at the 2008 Russian FINA Grand Prix in the 3-meter and finished sixth at the 2009 FISU World University Games on the 1-meter.

Outside of the pool, Friesen holds a cumulative grade point average of 3.28, which includes a perfect 4.0 during the fall of 2009. The psychology major is set to earn her bachelor's degree at the Spring Commencement in two weeks. In addition, Friesen has been an active member of the community, volunteering for reading days with elementary school children; fundraising for the Make-A-Wish Foundation; and participating in outdoor recreation activities for special needs children.

“In order to be a scholar-athlete and accomplish so much in the pool, Emma Friesen has had to work very hard and demonstrate a great desire to excel in her sport,” head diving coach Mike Brown said. “She has been a fierce competitor and a sensitive human being, overcoming many obstacles along her path as a Rainbow Wahine. Two years ago, she broke her ankle in three places and with a four-inch rod and seven screws in her leg, she relearned how to walk, then dive and then compete in order to earn her fourth NCAA All-America honor at this year's NCAA Championships. It took a lot of character for her to finish her athletic career at the University of Hawai'i on such a high note.”

Pilares, a four-year lettermen for the Warriors, became just the second player in the program's history to be named to the ESPN CoSIDA Academic All-America first team. In 2010, he was named second-team all-WAC and finished seventh nationally with 100.5 receiving yards per game and 13^th in receptions per game at 6.8. Pilares also set a new school record with 18 catches in a win over Louisiana Tech, which earned him WAC Player of the Week honors.

Pilares started his career as a running back in 2007 and led the team in rushing. Over the next two years, he played both slot and wide receiver positions and finished his career ranked seventh in all-purpose yards (3,379) and ninth in receiving yards (2,491).

A kinesiology and leisure science major, Pilares has a cumulative GPA of 3.63 and was named to the Dean's List five times. He was a four-time academic all-WAC selection.

“Kealoha attacks every challenge with passion, whether it be on the football field, classroom, or in the community and with the focus to be the best he can be in each of those areas,” head football coach Greg McMackin said. “With every step he takes each day, he represents himself and his family in the best possible fashion. If you want to win the game of life, then you should live your life like Kealoha. It is hard for me to believe there is someone more deserving of this most prestigious award than Kealoha Pilares.”

Considered the most prestigious award in UH athletics, the Jack 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.