HONOLULU – University of Hawai'i women's beach volleyball player Katie Spieler and men's swimmer Kacy Johnson were the recipients of the 2016 Jack Bonham Award in recognition of their outstanding performances on and off the playing field. The announcement was made Tuesday 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."
 
On the court, Spieler is a four-year starter and captain and holds the program-record with 102 career victories. On Tuesday, she was selected as the Big West Conference's Pairs Team of the Year along with freshman Emily Maglio. The Santa Barbara, Calif., native was a 2014 AVCA All-American and has led the Rainbow Wahine three straight national tournament appearances, including this week's inaugural NCAA Beach Volleyball Championship in Gulf Shores, Ala.
 
In the classroom, she graduated summa cum laude in three years from the Shidler College of Business with a bachelor's degree in accounting and will receive an accelerated master's degree in accounting next week with a perfect 4.0 grade point average. She was selected to the Dean's List seven times; was a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) for three years; and received two other "H" Awards on Tuesday – The Jenny (top academic scholar-athlete) and Rainbow Wahine Athlete of the Year – in addition to her "Heart of the Team" award at the 2015 "H" Awards.
 
"Dedicated and diligent, intelligent and inspiring, (Katie) is a young woman who has continually impressed me and leaves a lasting impression on everyone she meets," said beach volleyball assistant coach Evan Silberstein. "As a player, Katie is beyond reproach in her work ethic. As a student, Katie is impeccable. As a person, Katie is kind, caring, and thoughtful. She has been a tremendous asset to our program, this University and our island state."
 
A four-year letterman and team captain for the Rainbow Warriors swim team, Johnson was an eight-time MPSF Championship finalist and earned the bronze medal in the 500 Free at the 2016 MPSF Championships. During his career, he was a first-team all-conference honoree in the 500 Free (2016), two-time second-team honoree in the 200 Free (2015 and '16), second-team honoree in the 500 Free and 800 Free Relay (2015), and anchored the 800 Free Relay team to a silver medal at the 2015 MPSF Championships.
 
Johnson, a graduate of 'Iolani School, was also a three-time MPSF all-academic selection and four-time UH scholar-athlete. He maintains a 3.78 cumulative grade point average in finance and was named to the Dean's List six times with five straight A semesters. The Honolulu native is a four-year member of SAAC, serving as co-chair during the 2015-16 year while overseeing the re-establishment of the letterwinner program. He volunteers countless hours teaching swimming to local youths; serving as lifeguard for local ocean swims; and with various events including the Big West Coin Drive and UH Relay for Life.
 
"Kacy's contribution to the team in all areas is difficult to put into words, he has made such an impact on our team and in our department," head coach Victor Wales said. "He is willing to do anything to make student-athlete experiences at UH positive and meaningful. He goes above and beyond to make UH a better place. For his outstanding academic success, unparalleled leadership, his dedication to helping others combined with his athletic success in representing Hawai'i and UH, Kacy is the most worthy and deserving recipient of this award."
 
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
2015    Taylor Averill, volleyball      Genevieve Bradley, diving
                                        Shawna-Lei Kuehu, basketball
2014    Davis Rozitis, basketball       Emily Hartong, volleyball
2013    Pi'ikea Kitamura, baseball      Kelly Majam-Elms, softball,
                                        Stephanie Ricketts, basketball/softball
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