HONOLULU –  On Monday night at the Stan Sheriff Center, University of Hawai'i student-athletes and program contributors were celebrated during another special evening at the Seventh Annual "H Awards".
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The event, presented by Hawai'i Athletics, with support from Sodexo, provided recognition for the achievements – both athletically and academically – of UH's 21 sports teams during the 2017-18 academic year. In total, 36 awards were handed out to Hawai'i student-athletes at the primetime awards event.
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The annual Jack Bonham Award was among the many awards presented and was given to women's swimmer
Franziska Weidner and baseball player
Johnny Weeks.
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The Bonham 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."
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The women's Bonham Award winner, Weidner (Nurenberg, Germany) has proven a determined, dedicated and invested swimmer for the Rainbow Wahine, leading her to two NCAA Championships appearances and 2018 All-America accolades after finishing seventh in this year's 100 breaststroke. Weidner is the three-time Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) Swimmer of the Year and has 20 MPSF event titles to her credit. She's also the holder of eight UH school records.
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Goal-oriented, hard-working and focused, Weidner is a double major pursuing a B.S. in Health and Exercise Science and a B.A. in Psychology, racking up a 3.94 cumulative GPA. She is a seven-time Dean's List honoree, two-time MPSF All-Academic, 2017 Top 5 Student-Athlete Award winner and recipient of the Chancellor Virginia S. Hinshaw Athletics Scholarship. She was a team captain for two years and is also a public service leader for the swimming program.
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"We are thrilled and proud that Franzi has been awarded this honor," swimming and diving head coach
Dan Schemmel said. "She had an amazing year and is the epitome of an outstanding student-athlete."
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The men's Bonham Award winner, Weeks (Long Beach, Calif.) came to UH as a true freshman walk-on. He has played four years as a starter for the Rainbow Warriors, taking up three different positions, which is a rarity in UH baseball. From his first days at UH, Weeks has worked non-stop at earning his starting position. He has been a major impact player and leads on and off the field.
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Beginning his career in 2015 at UH, Weeks has played in 173 games and is hitting .283 for the Rainbow Warriors with the team's second-most RBI on the year. He's recorded 148 hits for 70 RBI and 78 runs, holding a .325 on-base percentage and a .958 fielding percentage while playing third base, second base and left field. Weeks recently set a new UH career sac bunts standard with 43 in his career. He's also on the verge of setting the season record with 19 in the 2018 campaign, leading the nation in the stat.
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Off the field, Weeks has earned a 3.48 GPA in Economics with a Business minor. He's a four-time Dean's List honoree, four-time UH Scholar-Athlete and two-time Big West All-Academic.
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"He is truly an amazing person and athlete. I love this kid," head baseball coach
Mike Trapasso said. "He absolutely stands for everything the Jack Bonham represents."
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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.
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A host of other awards were presented throughout the program, including:Â
The Jenny Matsuda:Â Kira Makuta (WSWM),
Felix Albert (MTEN),
Genta Ito (FB)
Rainbow Wahine of the Year:Â
Emily Maglio (WVB/BVB)
Rainbow Warrior of the Year:Â Stijn van Tilburg (MVB)
Pride:Â Noah Borden (FB),
Taylor Donohue (WBB),
Adam Kealiher (MSWM),
Tahna Lindquist (WSWM),
Lalelei Mata'afa (WWP),
Payton Osborne (Cheer),
Kelly Sojka (SAIL)
Top Academic Team: Women's SoccerÂ
Male Rookie of the Year:Â
Maaki Yamazaki (BSB)
Female Rookie of the Year:Â
Lea Monkhouse (BVB)
Perseverance:Â Raion Black (TF)
Jack Bonham Award (Female):Â
Franziska Weidner (WSWM)
Jack Bonham Award (Male):Â
Johnny Weeks (BSB)
Top Scholars for Each Team:
Troy Kakugawa (BSB),
Gibson Johnson (MBB),
Julissa Tago (WBB),
Morgan Martin (BVB),
Ashley Gomez (Cheer),
Maddie Fuhrman (XC/TF),
Genta Ito (FB),
Trevor Hirata (MGLF),
Lauren Kirkwood (WGLF),
Michael Pacholski (SAIL),
Kellsie Gleason (SOC),
Brittany Hitchcock (SB),
Jonas Gutzat (MSWM),
Kira Makuta (WSWM),
Felix Albert (MTEN),
Petra Melounova (WTEN),
Dalton Solbrig (MVB),
Clare-Marie Anderson (WVB),
Erika Pauley (WWP).
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Previous Bonham Award Winners
Male Female
2017 Kupono Fey, men's volleyball Cole Brauer, sailing
2016 Kacy Johnson, swimming Katie Spieler, beach volleyball
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
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#HawaiiAthletics
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