HONOLULU – University of Hawai'i softball player Kelly Majam, two-sport athlete Stephanie Ricketts, and baseball player Pi'ikea Kitamura were the recipients of the 2013 Jack Bonham Award in recognition of their outstanding performances on and off the playing field. The announcement was made Monday night at 'Ahahui Koa 'Anuenue's H Awards 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.”
 
The women's award was shared by Majam and Ricketts, teammates on UH's successful softball team who led the Rainbow Wahine to the College World Series in 2010. Ricketts used her remaining year of eligibility to play on the basketball team this past season.
 
Majam, a three-time All-American and all-conference first team honoree, has maintained a 3.85 grade point average and was selected as an academic all-district selection. She overcame several obstacles throughout her career, recovering from a knee injury that curtailed her freshman year, to being diagnosed with thyroid cancer, which required the removal of her thyroid. She is an advocate in the search to cure cancer and is an active participant in numerous community service projects including speaking to children and adult groups about her survival. She will graduate in the spring with a degree in secondary elementary with an emphasis in health and physical education.
 
“Kelly embellishes the interaction of all those that seek her out, from young to old,” head coach Bob Coolen said. “She's willing to offer her time with anyone wishing it, will sign autographs at any time, and will do community service for many different schools that request her to come and read or just interact with younger students. Her leadership skills are evident from how she conducts herself on the field. She's never one to cut a corner or give less than 100% as she relishes the opportunity to play a sport that has been an integral part of her life since she was an aspiring 8-year-old. She's committed to doing her best in everything that she does.”
 
Ricketts finished her softball career as UH's all-time winningest pitcher with career records for strikeouts, appearances, innings pitched and shut-outs. She is one of the most decorated softball players in school history as a two-time All-American and academic All-American, three-time WAC Pitcher of the Year and a Lowe's Senior CLASS first team All-American. The San Jose, Calif., native graduated with a 3.4 grade point average and is currently pursuing a master's degree in UH's Accelerated Nursing Program. This past year, she competed on the Rainbow Wahine basketball team.
 
“To watch Stephanie compete is amazing,” UH women's basketball head coach Laura Beeman said. “Her fire, her work ethic and drive is second to none and she is the epitome of what a student-athlete should be. She wears the green and white proudly and represents the school as well as the state of Hawai'i with great pride. She truly appreciates the University and the opportunities she has had here.”
 
Kitamura, a four-year starter on the Rainbow baseball team, was a first-team all-conference selection last year and was named to the Wallace Shortstop of the Year Watch List after hitting .311 with 29 RBI and 30 runs scored. He has over 100 career RBI and has started 207 of 209 career games played. The Kane'ohe, O'ahu native is active in community service, having volunteered to repaint the Next Step Kaka'ako Homeless Shelter and visiting elementary schools to read to children. He maintains a 3.0 grade point average and will graduate this spring with a degree in sociology.
 
“Pi'ikea is the embodiment of what a true University of Hawai'i student-athlete is all about,” UH baseball head coach Mike Trapasso said. “He is a tremendous student, a four-year starter, and a major contributor to our back-to-back WAC championship teams in 2010 and '11. A true team leader, and one of the best Rainbow baseball players in history. He is our captain and our leader. And on a personal note…because of the type of person he is, Pi'ikea Kitamura is my favorite player I've coached in 26 years!”

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.

Previous Bonham Award Winners
 	Male                            Female
2012	Matt Sisto, baseball	        Kanani Danielson, volleyball
2011	Kealoha Pilares, football	Emma Friesen, diving
2010	Andreas "Andy" Weber, tennis	Aneli Cubi-Otineru, volleyball
2009	Solomon Elimimian, football	Annett Wichmann, track and field
2008	Colt Brennan, football 	        Kate Robinson, softball
2007	Mark Rodrigues, baseball	Kanoe Kamana'o, volleyball,
			                Brittany Grice, basketball
2006	Alfred Reft, volleyball		Allie Rowe, golf
2005	Chad Owens, football		Jennifer Warnock, sailing
2004	Michael Kuebler, basketball	Melissa Villaroman, volleyball
2003	Costas Theocharidis, volleyball	Kate Judd, softball
2002	Predrag Savovic, basketball	Molly O'Bryan, sailing
2001	Nerijus Puida, basketball	Andrea Nishioka, water polo
2000	Dan Robinson, football		Raylene Howard, basketball
1999	Michael Dartt, baseball		B.J. Itoman, basketball
1998	Naveh Milo, volleyball		Nani Cockett, basketball
1997	Carlton Oswalt, football	Angelica Ljungquist, volleyball
1996	Clint Kuboyama, football	Tania Brunton, basketball
1995	Jason Olive, volleyball		Brandi Brooks, volleyball
1994	Jarinn Akana, basketball	Melanie Azama, basketball
1993	Travis Sims, football		Daniele Haia, softball
1992	Shawn Ching, football		Heidi McElhanney, swimming
1991	Dane McArthur, football		Patti Su'a, softball
1990	Jeff Ball, baseball		Judy Mosley, basketball
1989	Amosa Amosa, football		Sandra Budd, swimming
1988	Guy Farrow, swimming		Reydan Ahuna, volleyball
1987	None		                Susan McDaniel, diving
1986	Michael Beazley, football	Susan Hlavenka, volleyball
1985	Joe Lileikis, swimming		Andrea Hawcridge, swimming
1984	None		                Rose Thomas, tennis
1983	Larry Goeas, football		Joy Minaai, tennis
1982	Brandan Kop, golf		Gillian Cooper, tennis
1981	Blane Gaison, football		None
1980	Dean Dunn-Rankin, tennis	Bonnie Gouveia, volleyball
1979	Ron Nomura, baseball		Jane Zukaitis, tennis
1978		Harris Matsushima, football
1977		Gerald Ako, baseball; Alex Kaloi, football
1976		Marilyn Moniz, women's volleyball
1975		Gene Caranza, men's gymnastics
1974		Joey Estrella, baseball
 
Note: Only one award given the first five years