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HONOLULU – University of Hawai'i women's basketball player Shawna-Lei Kuehu, women's diver Genevieve Bradley, and men's volleyball player Taylor Averill were the recipients of the 2015 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."
 
Kuehu, a four-year letterwinner for the women's basketball team, helped lead the Rainbow Wahine to their first regular season Big West Conference title since 2007-08 and was instrumental in leading UH to three straight postseason appearances in the WNIT. A first-team all-conference selection, Kuehu was recently voted as the team's Most Valuable Player and a two-time recipient of the program's Ah Chew Goo Achievement Award, given to the player who attained basketball excellence through dedication, determination and perseverance.
 
As a sixth-year senior, Kuehu has endured adversity on and off the court, having overcome a second season-ending knee injury during her freshman season and a high-risk pregnancy during her sophomore season.
 
"Through it all, she has grown into a beautiful and inspirational person, player, leader, and mother," head coach Laura Beeman said. "Her ultimate reason for playing now is her daughter, Kaiona. She has also learned to play for herself and not to the expectations of others and embraced her leadership role with the program. Shawna has not only been an exemplary example to her teammates but an inspiration to the state of Hawai'i – including all the keiki growing up and dreaming of being the next Shawna-Lei Kuehu."
 
Bradley, a standout diver for the women's swimming and diving team, worked her way from a walk-on for head coach Mike Brown's nationally recognized diving team to an individual conference champion (platform) this past season. She helped UH claim its first Mountain Pacific Sports Federation title and just missed out on qualifying for the NCAA Championship, finishing one place out in the final NCAA Zone E standings.
 
An active member of the UH community, Bradley received the Athletic Department's Lokahi Community Service Award in 2013. She was elected to Associated Students of the University of Hawai'i (ASUH) in 2013 and '14, and is active with the department's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. She is currently the President of the Manoa Maniacs student spirit group.
 
"Genevieve embodies many of the qualities espoused by the late Jack Bonham…she is well rounded student and athlete who left her mark on the University of Hawai'i because of her willingness to serve the student body and the surrounding community," Brown said. "Genevieve has succeeded because of her positive attitude and spirit – she knows no limits and works until her tasks are completed. After her graduation this spring, Genevieve's next goal is to become a professional cliff diver, which I have no doubt she will succeed."
 
Averill has been instrumental in the men's volleyball team's rise to the top of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation and No. 1 national ranking this season. The four-year letterman is considered one of the best middle blockers in the country and among the nation's leaders in hitting percentage (.491) and blocking (1.31 per set). He was recognized twice this season as the MPSF's Player of the Week and is a serious candidate for the National Player of the Year award.
 
Averill has led the Rainbow Warriors to their best season in years. UH attained its first No. 1 national ranking since 2004, its longest win streak (16) since 2006, its most wins (24) since 2003, and its first trip to the MPSF semifinals since 2010. Averill and the 'Bows are also trying to reach the program's first NCAA Championship since 2002.
 
"Taylor has excelled in all three areas this award represents – he is an exceptional student, an All-American middle blocker, and is tremendously active in our community," head coach Charlie Wade said. "He's not only our team's top scholar-athlete but he has one of the highest GPAs in the department for the past two years. He's a first-team All-American and national player of the year caliber. He volunteers for various events – singing Christmas carols to the elderly, reading days at elementary schools. I haven't been around a better representative for the Jack Bonham Award than Taylor Averill."
 
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
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