Tom Hansen Medal

SAN FRANCISCO - The 2021-22 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.

2021-22 Pac-12 Tom Hansen Conference Medal Winners (click names to view video vignettes)

ARIZONA

Sam Thomas, Women’s Basketball (Las Vegas, Nev.) - Completed both graduate degree in educational leadership (4.0 GPA) and undergraduate degree in psychology (3.97 GPA) at Arizona … 2021 Pac-12 Women’s Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year … 2021 Elite 90 award recipient for NCAA Women’s Basketball … Two-time CoSIDA First Team Academic All-American, the first multiple recipient in program history … Three-time Pac-12 Winter Academic Honor Roll honoree, 2019 Pac-12 All-Academic First Team for women’s basketball … Four-year team captain … Three-time Pac-12 All-Defensive Team selection … Arizona’s all-time leader in games played (154) and minutes played (5,125), also ranks top 10 in school history in scoring, three-point shooting, blocks and steals … Made roster of WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury as undrafted free agent … Served as co-president of Arizona’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) … One of Arizona Athletics Department's top community service student-athletes working with a variety of Tucson local non-profits … Lended her voice and face to department's mental health awareness campaign in 2019 and continued to be outspoken about the importance of mental health throughout her career.

Brooks Fail, Men’s Swimming & Diving (Tucson, Ariz.) - Pursuing a master’s degree in rehabilitation and mental health counseling, completed bachelor’s degree in literacy learning and leadership, community education in 2021 … Three-time Pac-12 Winter Academic Honor Roll awardee, 2019 Pac-12 All-Academic Team for men’s swimming and diving … 2018 CSCAA Scholar All-American … Seven-time NCAA All-American, including six times as an individual … Two-time Pac-12 champion in the 1,650-meter freestyle (2020, 2022) … Owns Arizona school records in the 400-meter individual medley and 1,650-meter freestyle … Volunteered at a variety of local organizations - part of team host of Team IMPACT honoree swimmer, volunteered helping youth at Ford Aquatics.

ARIZONA STATE

Emma Nordin, Women’s Swimming & Diving (Carmel, Ind.) - Currently pursuing graduate degree in biology, graduated Summa Cum Laude with a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences (neurobiology, physiology and behavior) in May 2021 … 2022 Bill Kajikawa Award recipient, ASU Athletics’ annual honor for graduating student-athletes with demonstrated academic excellence, athletic accomplishment, leadership and service in the community … 2021 Pac-12 Postgraduate Scholarship recipient … Nine-time Dean’s List member … Two-time CSCAA Scholar All-American (2019, 2020) … 2020 Pac-12 Winter Academic Honor Roll, 2019 Pac-12 First Team All-Academic for women’s swimming … 2020 Pac-12 champion in the 500-meter freestyle … Owns school records in four freestyle events (200, 500, 1,000, 1,650) … Competed at both the 2019 and 2022 NCAA Championships.

Anthony Valencia, Wrestling (Bellflower, Calif.) - Pursuing master’s degree in liberal studies (4.0 GPA), 2021 graduate in interdisciplinary studies … 2022 Pac-12 Wrestling Scholar-Athlete of the Year … Three-time NWCA Scholar All-American (2020-22) … Two-time Pac-12 Winter Academic Honor Roll (2020, 2021) … Four-time Pac-12 champion, three times at 165 lbs. (2017, 2018, 2021) and once at 174 lbs. (2020) … Most Outstanding Wrestler at 2021 Pac-12 Championships … Two-time NCAA All-American (2020, 2021).

CALIFORNIA

Camryn Rogers, Women’s Track & Field (Richmond, B.C.) - Dual degree recipient from California in political economy and society & environment … Three-time NCAA champion (2019, 2021, 2022), three-time Pac-12 champion (2019, 2021, 2022)  in the hammer throw … Holds the top 10 throws in collegiate women’s hammer history, including the Pac-12, Collegiate and Canadian record of 77.67 meters … Five-time NCAA All-American … Two-time semifinalist for the Bowerman (2021, 2022) … Represented Canada at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo and finished fifth in the women's hammer throw, the highest-ever place reached by a Canadian in the event.

Elijah Hicks, Football (Long Beach, Calif.) - Graduated in December 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in American studies before earning graduate certificates in entrepreneurship in May 2021 and business administration in December 2021 … 2020 AFCA All-State Good Works Team member … 2021 Pop Warner College Football Award winner, an honor which recognizes a senior who shows exceptional leadership on the field, in the classroom and in the community … 2021 First Team All-Pac-12 performer and Third Team All-American by Pro Football Focus … Six-time game captain who started all 12 games at safety in 2021 while tying for the team and Pac-12 lead with four forced fumbles, added three interceptions to earn team Defensive MVP honors … Established his own non-profit foundation, Intercept Poverty, and responded to the COVID-19 pandemic by raising nearly $70,000 through the Intercept Poverty Foundation's COVID-19 Campaign, working along with No Kid Hungry to provide financial assistance to low-income families to afford to feed their children ... Partnered with Scholarship America to award grants of $500-700 to provide emergency relief funds to deserving students at UC Berkeley for expenses such as bills, rent and food.

COLORADO

Sadie Grozier, Women’s Lacrosse (Pleasanton, Calif.) - Completed undergraduate studies in marketing with a certificate in social responsibility and ethics in 2021, currently pursuing master’s degree in business analytics … Nine-time member of AD’s Honor Roll, four-time Dean’s List recipient, two-time Pac-12 Spring Academic Honor Roll honoree (2020, 2021) … One of four recipients of 2022 CU Female Career Athletic Achievement Award … Three-time All-Pac-12 performer, earning First Team honors in 2021 and Second Team in 2019 and 2022 … 2021 Pac-12 All-Tournament Team selection … Set career-highs in goals (49) and points (58) in 2022, becoming the fourth CU player to reach 150 career goals (156) and finishing fourth in program history with 190 career points … Volunteered with Read with the Buffs, and assisted with the Marshall Fire Clothing Drive following the devastating local fires in January 2022.

Evan Battey, Men’s Basketball (Los Angeles, Calif.) - Earned bachelor’s degree in journalism in August 2021, currently pursuing graduate degree in organizational leadership … Appeared on AD’s Honor Roll, with semester GPA of 3.0 or higher, seven times … Honorable mention 2019 Pac-12 All-Academic Team for men’s basketball … 2022 Senior CLASS All-American, one of 10 finalists for the award … One of four recipients of 2022 CU Male Career Athletic Achievement Award … One of two inaugural recipients of the 2022 Colorado Athletics Visibility Award (CAVA), contributing to the advancement of LGBTQ+ inclusion in sport … 2018 Clancy A. Herbst Student-Athlete Achievement Award from CU Athletics, given to those who overcome personal, academic and/or emotional challenges or difficulties to succeed both academically and athletically … Four-time winner of team’s Most Inspirational Player Award … Two-time winner of team’s Tebo Family P.A.S.S Award, recognizing the player that best exemplified the virtues of Perseverance, Attitude, Selflessness and Success … CU’s Ceal Barry Leadership Award winner in 2019 and 2020. … 2022 Second Team All-Pac-12 performer, All-Defensive Team honorable mention … 2021 Pac-12 All-Tournament Team selection … Helped Colorado to four consecutive 20-win seasons and three postseason appearances (one NCAA, two NIT) … Served on the Pac-12 Mental Health Task Force and the NABC’s Player Development Coalition, comprised of 11 players nationwide … Team representative on Colorado’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).

OREGON

Eden Hardy, Women’s Soccer (Arcadia, Calif.) - Completed her undergraduate studies in biology with double minors in chemistry and Spanish, with plans to pursue medical school … Recipient of 2022 Pac-12 Student-Athlete Leadership Award … Two-time Pac-12 Fall Academic Honor Roll recipient (2019, 2021) … Concluded five-year playing career ranked third at Oregon with 83 matches played, totaled eight goals and seven assists … Member of the executive committee of Oregon's SAAC since 2019, serving as the co-chair of its BEOREGON subcommittee … Represented Oregon at a number of conference events including the Pac-12 Global University Sports Summit in 2019 and Pac-12 Green Team … In summer 2019, went on an O Heroes service trip and constructed a basketball court for primary school students in Jamaica.

Cooper Teare, Men’s Cross Country/Track & Field (Alameda, Calif.) - Completed his undergraduate degree in applied economics, business and society … Three-time Pac-12 Spring Academic Honor Roll member (Fall 2020, 2021; Spring 2021) … 2021 CoSIDA Second Team Academic All-American … Six-time NCAA All-American across cross country (2019), indoor (two events 2019 & 2021) and outdoor (2021) … Four-time Pac-12 Cross Country All-Conference performer (First Team 2018, 2019, 2021; Second Team 2017) … 2017 Pac-12 Cross Country Freshman of the Year … Two-time NCAA champion, distance medley relay at 2021 NCAA Indoors and 5,000-meter run in meet record time (13:12.27) at 2021 NCAA Outdoors … Two-time Pac-12 champion, 5,000-meter run at 2019 Championships and 1,500-meter run at 2021 Championships … Two-time runner-up at Pac-12 Cross Country Championships (2019, 2021) … Holds collegiate indoor records in mile (3:50.39) and distance medley relay (9:19.42) … Semifinalist for the 2021 Bowerman.

OREGON STATE

Grace Massey, Women’s Volleyball (Beaverton, Ore.) - Currently pursuing a master’s degree in business administration in corporate finance after completing undergraduate studies in business management … Three-time Pac-12 Fall Academic Honor Roll recipient (2019-21) … Among 30 candidates for 2021 Senior CLASS Award for women’s volleyball … Three-time team captain … 2020 Pac-12 All-Conference performer, 2021 honorable mention selection … Oregon State’s all-time digs leader (2,174) … Four-time Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week … Participant in several volunteer activities -  "Read with the Beavs" at the Corvallis Library, “Beavers Without Borders” trip to the Dominican Republic in 2019, assisted the "Dam Worth It" committee at sporting events, "Adopt a Family" service projects, and helped organize a "Thank You" recognition for Gill Coliseum cleaning crew at OSU.

Joel Walker, Men’s Soccer (Colorado Springs, Colo.) - Current MBA candidate and undergraduate degree recipient in marketing … 2021 Senior CLASS All-American, one of 10 finalists for the award … 2020 Pac-12 Men’s Soccer Scholar-Athlete of the Year … Two-time CoSIDA Academic All-District honoree … Three-time Pac-12 Fall Academic Honor Roll recipient (2019-21), 2018 First Team All-Academic in men’s soccer … 2019 First Team All-Pac-12 performer with six goals and four assists during junior season … Helped Oregon State to 49 wins and three NCAA Tournament appearances during five seasons … 2020-21 Oregon State Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) president is a co-founder of the "Dam Change" initiative and also heavily involved with the "Dam Worth It" initiative.

STANFORD

Brooke Forde, Women’s Swimming & Diving (Louisville, Ky.) - Completed undergraduate degree in human biology with a 3.96 GPA in 2021, boasts a 4.07 GPA as master’s candidate in epidemiology … 2021 CoSIDA At-Large Academic All-American of the Year … Three-time CoSIDA First Team Academic All-American (2020, 2021, 2022) … Four-time CSCAA Scholar All-American (2018-21) … 2020-21 Pac-12 Women’s Swimming Scholar-Athlete of the Year … Two-time Pac-12 Winter Academic Honor Roll recipient (2020, 2021), 2019 Pac-12 First Team All-Academic for women’s swimming … Member of two NCAA championship teams (2018, 2019) … Member of four Pac-12 championship teams (2018-20, 2022) … Five-time NCAA national champion, 19-time NCAA All-American … Six-time Pac-12 champion … 2020 Olympic Silver Medalist in the 800-meter freestyle relay.

Alex Williams, Baseball (Castro Valley, Calif.) - Management science & engineering major … 2022 Pac-12 Baseball Scholar-Athlete of the Year … 2022 Senior CLASS Award First Team All-American … 2022 CoSIDA First Team Academic All-American … Three-time Pac-12 Spring Academic Honor Roll recipient (2020, 2021, 2022) … 2022 Pac-12 Pitcher of the Year, College Baseball Foundation National Pitcher of the Year semifinalist … 2022 All-American (Collegiate Baseball First Team, NCBWA Second Team, ABCA/Rawlings Third Team) ... 2019 Freshman All-American by several outlets … Volunteered with the Miracle League and participated in visits to children’s hospitals ... Worked at baseball camps, where he helps develop the youth in the area ... At home in Castro Valley, Calif., has volunteered at his local church leading a youth bible study for children ages 4-12.

UCLA

Briana Perez, Softball (Martinez, Calif.) - Pursuing master’s degree in education (4.00 GPA) after earning bachelor’s degree in psychology with history minor in 2021 … Two-time CoSIDA Second Team All-American (2021, 2022), four-time CoSIDA Academic All-District … Two-time Pac-12 Spring Academic Honor Roll recipient (2020, 2021), 2019 Pac-12 Second All-Academic for softball … 2022 Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year … Four-time First Team All-Pac-12 and All-Defensive Team performer … Two-time NFCA Third Team All-American (2021, 2022) … Helped UCLA to four Women’s College World Series appearances, including 2019 NCAA national championship … UCLA’s career leader in runs scored, fourth Bruin to join the 300 hits club, ranks top 3 at UCLA in games played, games started, triples and stolen bases … Community service activities include beach clean-ups at Santa Monica beach, PSAs supporting the Black Lives Matter movement, and hospital visits for pediatric cancer patients.

Myles Johnson, Men’s Basketball (Long Beach, Calif.) - Pursuing graduate degree in electrical engineering at UCLA after earning undergraduate degree in electrical and computer engineering at Rutgers in May 2021 … 2021 CoSIDA Academic All-District selection … Two-time All-Academic honoree at Rutgers … Three-time Big Ten Winter Academic All-Conference (2019-21) … 2021-22 Pac-12 All-Defensive Team performer, two-time All-Defensive Team selection during career … Established BLKdev, an initiative to inspire minority youths to participate in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) … While at Rutgers, was a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) that traveled to Puerto Rico in the summer to benefit Soles4Souls, a global not-for-profit dedicated to fighting poverty ... Featured on B1G Impact Roundtable on the role of college sports in the push toward greater equality.

USC

Tina Graudina, Beach Volleyball (Jurmala, Latvia) - Pursuing graduate degree in communication management, earning undergraduate degree in political science … 2021 Pac-12 Spring Academic Honor Roll, 2019 Pac-12 Second Team All-Academic for beach volleyball … Member of two NCAA championship (2021, 2022) and Pac-12 championship (2019, 2022) teams … 2022 AVCA National Pair of the Year … Four-time AVCA First Team All-American and Top Flight Pair … Three-time Pac-12 Player and Pair of the Year, four-time First Team All-Pac-12 performer … 2018 Pac-12 Freshman of the Year … Three-time NCAA All-Tournament Team selection … Four-time Pac-12 All-Tournament Team performer … 2020 Olympian, finishing fourth for Latvia … Ukraine relief efforts campaign with Latvian Beach Volleyball National Team … Earned the Trojaneer Diamond Award at USC's Student-Athlete Graduation  for bringing the most fame and distinction to the university.

Earnie Sears III, Men’s Track & Field (Palmdale, Calif.) - Complete both bachelor’s degree in communication and master’s degree in entrepreneurship at USC … Three-time Pac-12 high jump champion (2018, 2019, 2022), 1-of-3 to win three titles in event (Dick Fosbury, Nick Ross) … Eight-time NCAA All-American in the high jump, four apiece outdoor and indoor … Tied for fifth in Pac-12 history and second in USC history with personal-best clearance of 2.30 meters (7-6.5), the second-best mark in the world in 2022 … LA Reinvestment Fund Turkey Give-A-Way (2018, 2019) … Student-Athlete Volunteer Tour Guide for Day in Troy (2018, 2019).

UTAH

Sydney Soloski, Women’s Gymnastics (Calgary, Alberta) - Dual degree recipient in finance and marketing at Utah … Three-time Pac-12 Winter Academic Honor Roll recipient (2020, 2021, 2022) … Three-time WCGA Scholastic All-American (2018, 2019, 2021) … Two-time recipient of Utah Gymnastics’ Greg and Megan Marsden Leadership Award (2021, 2022) … Three-time team captain helped Utah to three Pac-12 regular-season (2020, 2021, 2022) and two Championships (2021, 2022) titles … Five-time All-American on floor (three regular-season, two NCAA) … 2021 Pac-12 co-champion on floor, Three-time All-Pac-12 performer on floor … Yearly Trunk or Treat that Ute Academy puts on to support the community … Volunteered with Girls on the Run, a non-profit organization in Utah; at Backman Elementary where she did activities with the elementary school kids, taught and read books to them, and spent time there.

Josh Stout, Men’s Lacrosse (Alpine, Utah) - Bachelor’s degree in nursing from Utah in 2020 … Forwent 2020-21 season to serve as full-time nurse during COVID-19 pandemic; returned to full-time academics and competition in 2021-22 yet continued to work shifts during season  … Eight-time member of Dean’s List, five-time recipient of AD’s Honor Roll … Utah’s career leader in goals (74) and points (105), ranks second in assists (31) … Led Utes to the best season in program history in 2022 with 10-4 overall record, Atlantic Sun regular-season title and appearance in ASUN Championship title game.

WASHINGTON

Gabbie Plain, Softball (Harrington Park, Australia) - Current double major in psychology and anthropology at Washington … 2022 Senior CLASS Award finalist for softball … Three-time Pac-12 Spring Academic Honor Roll recipient (2020, 2021, 2022), 2019 Pac-12 First Team All-Academic for softball … Two-time CoSIDA Academic All-District (2019, 2022), Third Team Academic All-American in 2022 … Three-time NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete (2019, 2021, 2022) … 2021 Pac-12 Pitcher of the Year … Four-time First Team All-Pac-12 performer (2018, 2019, 2021, 2022) … Four-time NFCA All-American, twice a First Team selection (2019, 2021) … 11-time Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week … Second player in program history to reach 1,000 career strikeouts and fourth with 100 career wins … 2020 Olympian with Australia … Currently volunteers with Rainier Athletes, a non-profit that pairs adult mentors with historically marginalized youth.

Dylan Teves, Men’s Soccer (Kailua, Hawai’i) - 2021 graduate with bachelor’s degree in finance … 2021 United Soccer Coaches National Scholar Player of the Year … 2021 Pac-12 Men’s Soccer Scholar-Athlete of the Year … 2021 CoSIDA First Team Academic All-American … Two-time United Soccer Coaches First Team Men’s Scholar All-American (2020, 2021) … Two-time Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar (2021, 2022) … Three-time Pac-12 Fall Academic Honor Roll recipient (2019, 2020, 2021) … Helped Washington to the 2019 Pac-12 regular-season title, four NCAA Tournament appearances and 2021 College Cup title match during his career … MAC Hermann Trophy finalist (2021) and semifinalist (2020) … Two-time United Soccer Coaches First Team All-American (2020, 2021) … Two-time First Team All-Pac-12 performer (2020, 2021) … Active participant in Husky Soccer Camps and other local youth soccer clinics.

WASHINGTON STATE

Krystal Leger-Walker, Women’s Basketball (Waikato, New Zealand) - Earned undergraduate degree in finance and management, pursuing master’s degree in sport management … Two-time Pac-12 Winter Academic Honor Roll recipient (2021, 2022) … Helped WSU Women’s Basketball earn the program’s first-ever WBCA Academic Top 25 honor in 2021 … Two-time Pac-12 All-Defensive Team honorable mention (2021, 2022) … Honorable mention All-Pac-12 performer in 2021-22 … Helped WSU to 31 wins during two seasons, including program-record overall (19) and conference (11) victories during her final season in 2021-22 … Also helped Cougars to first back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances in program history (2021, 2022) … Led the Pac-12 with 109 assists in 2020-21 season and with 243 total over her two seasons at WSU … Volunteered time at WSU Athletics holiday events for local children.

Colton Johnsen, Men’s Track & Field (Bellingham, Wash.) - Boasts 4.0 GPA as an MBA candidate after earning an undergraduate degree in marketing from WSU … 2022 Pac-12 Winter Academic Honor Roll recipient … Winner of WSU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) True Cougar award, given to two senior student-athletes who started their WSU careers as non-scholarship student-athletes, and who, to their respective teams, define leadership, commitment to excellence and Cougar Pride … In only three years since transferring to WSU as a sophomore, has become one of the greatest distance runners in school history … Six-time NCAA All-American, four indoor and two outdoor … Ranks in the top 10 in WSU history in five events … Has volunteered time being a Coug Pal (Pen Pal) with local elementary kids.