Tom Hansen Medal

SAN FRANCISCO - The 2020-21 Pac-12 Tom Hansen Conference Medal recipients were announced today. A Conference Medal is awarded annually to each member institution’s outstanding senior male and female student-athlete based on the exhibition of the greatest combination of performance and achievement in scholarship, athletics and leadership.

Conference medal winners have been named every year since the 1960-61 academic year. In 2009, the Pac-12 renamed the award the Tom Hansen Conference Medal in honor of Hansen, who retired at the end of June 2009 after serving for 26 years as Commissioner of the Pac-10.

2020-21 Pac-12 Tom Hansen Conference Medal Winners (click names to view video vignettes)

ARIZONA
David Laskin, Men’s Golf (Elk Grove, Calif.) - Honors graduate from Arizona’s prestigious Eller College of Management as a finance major with a 3.75 GPA … 2021 Pac-12 Men’s Golf Scholar-Athlete of the Year … 2020 Pac-12 Spring Academic Honor Roll … Pac-12 All-Academic First Team selection in 2018 and 2019 … Two-year member of Arizona's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee ... 2020-21 Co-Chair of Arizona SAAC's Mental Health Subcommittee … 2021 Pac-12 All-Conference Second Team performer … Ranks top 10 in Arizona history in career rounds played (165) … Helped Wildcats to 2021 Pac-12 Championship and three consecutive NCAA Regional appearances … Community service participation includes volunteering at Tucson YMCA, writing Valentine's Day cards for patients at Diamond Children's Hospital, packing meals for various food banks, local elementary schools' "Love of Reading" campaigns, and spearheading free golf clinics for local Tucson youth.

Gitte Heynemans, Women’s Tennis (Brussels, Belgium) - Arizona’s 2021 student-athlete valedictorian with a 4.0 GPA as a political science and international relations major … Arizona Athletics Academic Champion, Spring 2020 … 2020 Pac-12 Spring Academic Honor Roll … 2019 Pac-12 All-Academic First Team selection … Led Wildcats in singles victories as a sophomore, junior and senior en route to 57 career wins ... Team leader in doubles wins as a senior … One of the most involved student-athletes in community service, which included organizing donations for Community Day in Tucson for underserved communities, volunteered at numerous free youth tennis clinics throughout southern Arizona, active in the pen-pal writing programs with local elementary students and also wrote letters to overseas servicemen and servicewomen.

ARIZONA STATE
Nathan Ponwith, Men’s Tennis (Scottsdale, Ariz.) - Graduated magna cum laude with degree in organizational leadership (project management) in December 2020 … Team captain led Arizona State with 15 wins in 2021 and 25 total in his two full seasons with the program … Helped Sun Devils reach Pac-12 Championship match for first time in program history in 2021 … 2021 Pac-12 All-Conference First Team selection earned berth in NCAA Singles Championship … 2019 Pac-12 All-Conference Second Team … 2019 NCAA Doubles Championship qualifier … Active in the pen-pal writing programs with local elementary students and also wrote letters to servicemen and servicewomen overseas.

Olivia Mehaffey, Women’s Golf (Belfast, Ireland) - Dual degree recipient from Arizona State with a master’s in organizational leadership (4.0 GPA) and bachelor’s in sociology (3.75 GPA) … 2021 Pac-12 Women’s Golf Scholar-Athlete of the Year … Four-time WGCA All-American Scholar … 2020 Pac-12 Spring Academic Honor Roll … Pac-12 All-Academic Second Team in 2018 and 2019 … Three-time First Team All-Pac-12 (2017, 2018, 2019) and honorable mention in 2021 … Four-time WGCA All-American (Second Team - 2018, 2019; Honorable Mention - 2017, 2020) … Four career victories including 2019 Pac-12 individual and NCAA Norman Regional titles … Contributor on ASU’s 2017 NCAA National Championship team … 23 career top-10 performances and 71 rounds under par including 22 rounds in the 60s, all totals that rank among the best in NCAA history … Works closely with golf organizations locally, such as the AJGA, as well as in her home country of Ireland (Irish Golf Association).

CALIFORNIA
Darren Baker, Baseball (Granite Bay, Calif.) - American studies major who is the first member of his immediate family to earn a four-year college degree … One of five top finalists for the 2021 Senior CLASS Award for baseball … 2021 Pac-12 All-Conference First Team after posting single-season career highs in batting average (.327), runs (44), hits (73), walks (28), on-base percentage (.402) & stolen bases (28) … Two-time Pac-12 All-Defensive Team (2019, 2021) … Started 166-of-168 games, including streak of 123 consecutive starts to conclude career … Raised more than $11,000 through a GoFundMe to help rebuild small businesses in Sacramento that were victims of looting ... Donated 1,000 meals to Feeding America to help families impacted by COVID-19.

Deshae Wise, Women’s Track & Field (Grants Pass, Ore.) - Business administration major with 3.29 GPA … 2019 Pac-12 All-Academic Honorable Mention in outdoor track & field … 2019 MPSF All-Academic Scholar-Athlete in indoor track & field … Holds California’s school record in the indoor 60-meter hurdles (8.28) and ranks second in outdoor 100m hurdles (13.15) … Point scorer at 2021 Pac-12 Championships with fourth-place finish in 100 hurdles … Won nine events in 2021, including four at the 2021 Big Meet versus Stanford … along with mother, survivor and advocate for victims of sex trafficking.

COLORADO
Caleb Penner, Men’s Track & Field (Broomfield, Colo.) - Earned dual undergraduate degrees in engineering physics and applied mathematics in 2020 (3.985 GPA) and a master’s in applied mathematics in 2021 (4.0 GPA) … Recipient of CU’s Scholar-Athlete Award - highest GPA of his student-athlete class - as a sophomore, junior and senior … 10-time Athletic Director’s Honor Roll and eight-time Dean’s List member at CU … Ranks sixth all-time at CU in weight throw (18.37m/60-3.25) …  Pac-12 representative for Colorado Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), serving as president, vice president, head of internal affairs and community outreach events coordinator … Community service participation includes Read with the Buffs, Buff Hugs, Holiday Angel Tree, Kick or Treat, and Social Justice initiatives.

Sage Hurta, Women’s Cross Country/Track & Field (Hamilton, N.Y.) - Carries 3.983 GPA as chemical and biological engineering major with statistics minor … Two-time CoSIDA Academic All-American, including First Team honors in 2020 … 2019 Pac-12 Cross Country Scholar-Athlete of the Year … Four-time Pac-12 All-Academic First Team selection … 10-time Athletic Director’s Honor Roll and eight-time Dean’s List member at CU … Two-time NCAA Indoor National Champion (2017 DMR, 2021 Mile) … Four-time NCAA Cross Country All-American, seven-time NCAA All-American in total … Two-time Pac-12 Outdoor Champion (2018 Steeplechase, 2021 800-meter run) … Scoring member of 2018 NCAA Cross Country National Championship team and 2016 & 2017 Pac-12 Cross Country Championship teams … 2019 Colorado Sportswoman of the Year … Community service participation includes Read with the Buffs, Holiday Angel Tree, Girls on the Run, and Elementary Exercise Outreach.

OREGON
Hunter Kampmoyer, Football (Bishop, Calif.) - UO graduate with degree in sociology … Two-time Scholar-Athlete Award winner at UO … Member of two Pac-12 Championship teams and 2020 Rose Bowl champion … Completed Oregon career in 2020 with career highs in catches, receiving yards and touchdowns, finishing among the Pac-12 tight end leaders for touchdowns … Volunteered for O Heroes community service projects for four years. Spoke to local youth on many occasions and also participated in community service projects for Oregon Special Olympics, Boys and Girls Club of Eugene, and Boy Scouts of America.

Lydia Giomi, Women’s Basketball (Seattle, Wash.) - Dual degree recipient from Oregon with bachelor’s in educational foundations and minor in Spanish, and master’s in education … Four-time Scholar-Athlete Award recipient at UO … 2021 CoSIDA Academic All-District selection … 2020 College Football Playoff Dr. Pepper Go Teach tuition winner … Member of most successful class in program history, helping Oregon to three Pac-12 Regular Season and two Pac-12 Tournament titles along with four Sweet 16 appearances, three Elite Eights, and a Final Four during her career … Performer over 93 hours of community service on a variety of projects: Read to multiple elementary schools in Eugene and Springfield area, volunteered with Special Olympics, St. Vincent de Paul, KIDSPORTS, Courts for Kids Jamaica, Eugene Mission, and multiple hospital visits.

OREGON STATE
Ethan Thompson, Men’s Basketball (Los Angeles, Calif.) - Dual degree recipient from Oregon State with bachelor’s in digital communication arts (3.48 GPA) and master’s in communication sociology and ethnic studies (3.37 GPA) … Second in his family to receive Hansen Medal after brother Stephen received in 2019 … Two-time Pac-12 Winter Academic Honor Roll recipient and 2019 Pac-12 All-Academic Second Team … Two-time CoSIDA Academic All-District (2020, 2021) and two-time NABC Honors Court honoree (2019, 2020) … 2019 Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar Award winner … Selected to the All-Pac-12 First Team, Pac-12 All-Tournament Team and the NCAA Midwest Region All-Tournament Team in 2021 … Finished top-10 all-time at OSU in scoring (7th), assists (3rd), threes (8th), free throws (5th), games played (T-5th), games started (1st) and minutes played (2nd) … Participated in Read With The Beavs and special needs basketball clinics.

Aleah Goodman, Women’s Basketball (Milwaukie, Ore.) - Completed bachelor’s in human development and family science (3.64 GPA) and maintained 4.0 GPA while pursuing master’s in student service administration during 2020-21 season … Two-time Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll member and 2019 Pac-12 All-Academic Honorable Mention … Named WBCA All-America Honorable Mention, Pac-12 All-Conference, Pac-12 All-Tournament in 2020-21 … Owns Oregon State’s career record for three-point percentage, ranks third in threes made and 15th in scoring ... Two-time Pac-12 All-Defensive Honorable Mention and 2019 Pac-12 Sixth Player of the Year … Drafted 30th overall in the 2021 WNBA Draft by the Connecticut Sun … Helped spearhead the Change Starts with Us initiative among Pac-12 women's basketball teams, and volunteered at numerous elementary school events in Corvallis.

STANFORD
Oscar da Silva, Men’s Basketball (Munich, Germany) - Biology major with concentrations in biochemistry and biophysics with 3.48 GPA … 2021 Pac-12 Men’s Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year … Finalist for 2021 Senior CLASS Award for men’s basketball … 2021 CoSIDA Academic All-District selection … Two-time Pac-12 All-Academic Team and Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll honoree … Member of NABC Honors Court … Two-time Pac-12 All-Conference First Team (2020, 2021) and Pac-12 All-Defensive Team selection (2021) … Finalist for 2021 Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year … Top 15 in program history in scoring (15th), rebounds (13th), blocks (7th), field goals (13th), field goal percentage (14th) and minutes played (12th) … Has participated in a plethora of volunteer events including adoption of a child cancer survivor from Stanford Children’s Health, organized prom at Stanford Children’s Health,  served and dined with Ronald McDonald House families.

Kiana Williams, Women’s Basketball (San Antonio, Texas) - Science, technology & society major with 3.38 GPA … Two-time CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team (2020, 2021) … Two-time Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll (2020, 2021) … Pac-12 All-Academic Honorable Mention (2019) … Led Stanford to 2021 NCAA National Championship and Pac-12 regular-season and tournament titles, earning NCAA Alamo Region and Pac-12 Tournament Most Outstanding Player honors … 2021 WBCA, AP and USBWA All-American … 2019 Pac-12 Tournament champion … Three-time Pac-12 All-Conference selection … Three-time Pac-12 All-Tournament Team honoree … Two-time Ann Meyers Drysdale Award finalist … Top 10 in program history in scoring (10th), assists (9th), threes (1st, 4th in Pac-12 history), free throw percentage (2nd), and minutes played (4th) … Drafted 18th overall in the 2021 WNBA Draft by the Seattle Storm ... Has served in the local San Antonio area with Nustar community service projects … Volunteered at homeless and women's shelters serving food … Raised money for "Heaven for Hope," keeping it open … Helped run a youth basketball camp for local school … Has coached middle school basketball for former AAU team … Involved in local San Antonio Boys and Girls Club, donating time and resources as a mentor.

UCLA
Zach Pettway, Baseball (Long Beach, Calif.) - Sociology major with 3.12 GPA … Finalist for 2021 Senior CLASS Award for baseball … Five quarters on UCLA’s Director’s Honor Roll … Four-time Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week … 2021 NCAA Lubbock Regional All-Tournament Team ... D1Baseball.com’s Pac-12 Pitcher of the Year and Collegiate Baseball First Team All-American with 3-0 record and 1.05 ERA in shortened 2020 season … 2018 Pac-12 All-Conference Honorable Mention and Freshman All-American … Team representative for UCLA Athletics’ “Voting Matters Initiative” to get 100 percent of eligible teammates registered to vote.

Michaela Onyenwere, Women’s Basketball (Aurora, Colo.) - Sociology major with a minor in African American studies and 3.19 GPA … Eight quarters on UCLA’s Director’s Honor Roll … 2019 Pac-12 All-Academic Honorable Mention … First two-time AP All-American in program history … Three-time Pac-12 All-Conference selection … Two-time Pac-12 All-Tournament Team … Two-time finalist for Cheryl Miller Small Forward of the Year … Pac-12 All-Freshman Team … Bruins’ leading scorer each of last three seasons, fourth on program’s career scoring list … Drafted sixth overall in the 2021 WNBA Draft by the New York Liberty … Helped launched her team’s More Than a D.R.E.A.M campaign, co-chaired the Black Student-Athlete Alliance and helped launch and host Bruin Table Talk, a video series interviewing and highlighting prominent UCLA alumni using her platform to advance community, advocacy and social justice.

USC
John Thomas, Baseball (Los Angeles, Calif.) - Undergraduate degree in communications with 3.35 GPA, graduate certificate in marketing with 3.40 GPA … 2020 Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll …  2019 Pac-12 All-Academic Honorable Mention … Made 62 starts in 136 career games played … Served on Provost’s Oversight Committee for Athletic Academic Affairs, Pac-12 Student-Athlete Leadership Team (SALT), United Black Student-Athletes Association and Trojan Athletic Senate … USC Athletics Graduation speaker … Volunteerism includes: Vision To Learn, a nonprofit that provides free eye exams and free eyeglasses to students in low income communities; Step Up Tutoring, a connected organization with UBSAA in order to provide tutors; Visits with teammates to West Los Angeles Veterans Medical Center; Girls Play Holiday Event, a fitness workshop and helped bag and distribute over 1000 holiday gift bags for youth from Girls Play LA; Readers of Troy Summit to Marvin Elementary where he spoke to 300 youth about the importance of reading.

Anna Cockrell, Women’s Track & Field (Charlotte, N.C.) - Dual degree recipient from USC with bachelor’s in communication and political science minor (3.98 GPA) and master’s in public policy (4.0 GPA) … 2021 Pac-12 Women’s Track & Field Scholar-Athlete of the Year … 2020 CoSIDA Academic All-America Women's Team Member of the Year and First Team Academic All-American for Track and Field … Two-time CoSIDA Second Team Academic All-American … Three-time USTFCCCA Track & Field All-Academic … 12-time All-American … Won both the 100- and 400-meter hurdles national titles in 2021, becoming only the second woman in NCAA history to accomplish the feat ... Also the 2019 NCAA 400 hurdles national champion and two-time runner-up in the event … Three-time Pac-12 400m hurdles champion … Member of USC’s 2018 and 2021 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field National Championship teams … Four-time team captain … Founder and leading member of USC’s United Black Student-Athlete Association ... Member of Lambda Pi Eta, the Annenberg School’s Communications Honors Society … Was 1-of-2 athletes on 11-person search committee involved in the selection of USC's athletic director.

UTAH
Ola Jordheim, Skiing (Hemsedal, Norway) - Completed undergraduate and graduate degrees in mechanical engineering in just three years with 3.94 GPA … Second in his family to receive Hansen Medal after twin sister Guro received in 2020 … Two-time USCSCA National Collegiate All-Academic Ski Team selection ... Six semesters on the A.D. Honor Roll ... Two semesters on the Dean's List ... 2021 Crimson Carpet Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award … Three-time All-RMISA Second Team selection … 2019 All-American in the classic … Five career podium finishes, 12 top-fives and 29 top-10s … Active member of the Salt Lake City community, volunteering for Utah Athletics' Trunk or Treat, the Deer Valley Rug Workshop and helped package candy for Utah Women's Basketball home games ... Avid volunteer for RecycBike and the Ski Affair.

Alyssa Barrera, Softball (Chino Hills, Calif.) - Dual degree recipient from Utah with bachelor’s in communication and master’s in information systems (3.31 GPA) … 2020 CoSIDA Academic All-District selection … Two-time Pac-12 All-Academic Team honoree … 2020 Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll member … Two-time Pac-12 All-Conference and NFCA All-Region performer … 2017 Pac-12 All-Freshman Team … Sixth all-time at Utah in games played and hits … two-time team captain who elected to return for “Super Senior” season in 2021 to mentor incoming class … Chosen to be Senior Speaker at Utah's 2021 Crimson Carpet Awards ... Twice participated in annual community outreach program "Trunk or Treat" and served as P.E. Volunteer at Whittier Elementary and P.E. Day at Wallace Stegner Academy.

WASHINGTON
Elijah Molden, Football (West Linn, Ore.) -  Communication major with 3.58 GPA … 2020 William V. Campbell Trophy finalist, Lott IMPACT Trophy and Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year semifinalist … Flaherty Award recipient, UW football's most prestigious team honor given to UW's most inspirational player and voted on by players … Two-time Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll, 2018 Pac-12 All-Academic First Team … 2019 CoSIDA Academic All-District … 2019 Mitsubishi Motors Las Vegas Bowl MVP … Two-time Pac-12 All-Conference First Team, 2018 Pac-12 Second Team performer at defensive back … Third round selection in the 2021 NFL Draft by the Tennessee Titans.

Sis Bates, Softball (Ceres, Calif.) - 3.92 GPA with master’s in educational leadership & policy studies and bachelor’s in sociology … 2021 Senior CLASS Award finalist … 2020 Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll, 2019 Pac-12 All-Academic Honorable Mention … Three-time Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year and three-time Pac-12 All-Conference First Team … Two-time NFCA First Team All-American, 2021 Second Team All-American … UW’s career leader in hits and triples, third in program history with 300 career hits … Drafted in Athletes Unlimited Softball College Draft ... Seattle Sports Commission Female Sports Star of the Year.

WASHINGTON STATE
Emmanuel “Ray Ray” Wells Jr., Men’s Track & Field (South Seattle, Wash.) - Completed undergraduate degree in humanities in May 2020, pursuing second degree in general studies … 2020 NCAA Indoor First Team All-American, 2019 NCAA Indoor Second Team All-American … 2020 MPSF 60-meter dash champion … WSU 60-meter dash program-record holder, ranks seventh all-time at WSU in 100-meter dash …  2019 WSU Male Performance of the Year … Has volunteered at several WSU Athletic community service events during his time in Pullman.

Charisma Taylor, Women’s Track & Field (Nassau, Bahamas) - Graduated with hospitality business management degree with 3.47 GPA … 2020 MPSF All-Academic honoree … 2021 NCAA Indoor First Team All-American and Outdoor Honorable Mention All-American, 2020 NCAA Indoor Second Team All-American … 2020 MPSF triple jump champion ...  Owns WSU indoor and outdoor and Bahamian National records in triple jump … Also WSU program-record holder in 60-meter hurdles … 10th all-time at WSU in long jump … 2020 Cougar Sports Awards - Most Promising Female Athlete … Was 1-of-10 WSU students to receive WSU's Top Ten Senior awards … Treasurer of Black Student‐Athlete Association, board member and team representative for Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.