HONOLULU – A pair of standout student-athletes were awarded with the University of Hawai'i Athletic Department's highest honor. Track and field athlete Hannah Gaskins and men's volleyball player Rado Parapunov were selected as the recipients of the 2021 Jack Bonham Award.
 
Since 1974, 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."
 
Gaskins is just the second track and field athlete to win the award joining Annett Wichmann, who was the 2009 recipient. Parapunov is the ninth men's volleyball honoree, third straight, and fifth in the last seven years following in the footsteps of Colton Cowell (2020), Stijn van Tilburg (2019), Kupono Fey (2017), and Taylor Averill (2015).
 
Parapunov finished his career as one of the most decorated men's volleyball players in school history. In 2021, the Sofia, Bulgaria native helped the Rainbow Warriors win their first national championship and was awarded with AVCA National Player of the Year and Big West Conference Player of the Year honors. In addition, he was a three-time, first-team All-American and the Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Championship while finishing his career in the Top in kills and aces.
 
Off the court, Parapunov was a model student-athlete in the classroom and in the community. He earned his bachelor's degree in marketing and international business with a certificate in Russian and is on pace to receive his master's in marketing management later this year.
 
"Rado led our team through his character and humble ways," head coach Charlie Wade said. "He will go down in the history of the Rainbow Warrior volleyball program as one of the greatest, if not the greatest to have played, and he gave his heart and soul to UH and the state of Hawai'i. Despite English as his second language, he excelled academically and will leave UH with an advanced degree."
 
Gaskins was recently accepted to the highly prestigious Master's of Counseling Education program at Ohio State University, one of only 20 students admitted among over 100 who reached the interview stage, and several hundreds who applied. 
 
In her final event as a Rainbow Wahine, Gaskins achieved a top-10 all-time performance in the high jump. She also competed in the seven-event heptathlon, which is track & field's "all-around" best athlete competition, and is a leading Big West athlete in that event. 

Gaskins is a model of community involvement and giving back. She started a Bible study group for athletes and is strongly guided by faith. In addition, she spearheaded a workout and fitness group for other minority women striving to get more fit in a supportive environment. In the face of personal injury struggles, she continued to radiate positivity, inner peace, and support for others.
 
"Hannah is the moral compass and model citizen of our track & field team," head coach Tim Boyce said. "A 4.0 student in the fall, she is a conscientious and engaged student, who truly embodies the total package of academics, athletics, citizenship, and service. Some of her best attributes are her work ethic, leadership through example, and positive motivation and her teammates universally recognize her as one of the team's hardest workers and most sportsmanlike competitors."
 
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.

 
All-Time Bonham Award Winners

Year	Male	Female
2021	Rado Parapunov, Volleyball	Hannah Gaskins, Track and Field
2020	Colton Cowell, Volleyball	Petra Melounova, Tennis
2019	Stijn van Tilburg, Volleyball	Raisa Strom-Okimoto, Soccer
2018	Johnny Weeks, Baseball	Franziska Weidner, Swimming
2017	Kupono Fey, 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, Swimming
2010	Andreas "Andy" Weber, Tennis	Aneli Cubi-Otineru, Volleyball
2009	Solomon Elimimian, Football	Annett Wichmann, Track & 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 "Tita" 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	Brandon 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