Kitamura, Ricketts, Majam win Bonham

University of Hawaii softball player Kelly Majam, two-sport athlete Stephanie Ricketts, and baseball player Pi‘ikea Kitamura were the recipients of the 2013 Jack Bonham Award on Monday night 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 the successful Wahine softball team. Ricketts used her remaining year of eligibility to play basketball this season.

"Kelly embellishes the interaction of all those that seek her out, from young to old," 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."

Majam is a three-time All-American and all-conference first-team honoree. She has maintained a 3.85 grade-point average and was selected as an academic all-district selection. She overcame several obstacles throughout her career, 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. She will graduate this semester with a degree in secondary elementary education with an emphasis in health and physical education.

Ricketts is one of the most decorated softball players in school history. She was 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. She graduated with a 3.4 grade-point average and is pursuing a master’s degree in UH’s accelerated nursing program.

"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."

Kitamura is a four-year starter on the Rainbow baseball team. He was a first-team all-conference selection last year. The Kamehameha alum is active in community service, having volunteered to repaint the Next Step Kakaako Homeless Shelter. He also visits 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 Hawaii 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. 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.