Each year since 1961, two athletes from each Pac-12 program have been honored with the Conference Medal — known as the Tom Hansen Conference Medal since 2009, named after the conference’s longtime commissioner. The honor is given to an outstanding senior male and female student-athlete based on performance and achievement in scholarship, athletics and leadership. Today, the conference announced the 24 recipients for 2017, the WSU’s duo was more than deserving.

The conference selected WSU basketball star Josh Hawkinson on the men’s side, and tapped former Canadian Olympian and rowing star Nicole Hare on the women’s side.

The Hawkinson selection was an easy one as the school’s men’s recipient. The so-called double-double machine was a force on the court for the Cougs. Not only did he set the school’s all-time double-double record with 56, but he also set the program’s all time rebounding record.

In the class room, Hawkinson got the job done too. He graduated in 2016 and started work on a master’s degree last season. Hawkinson made the Pac-12 all-academic first team last season, his third straight year earning all-academic honors. And, last year, he took it a step further when the conference named him the Pac-12 men’s basketball scholar athlete of the year. Hawkinson will head off the Japan this fall to start his pro career.

Hare was the recipient on the women’s side for the Cougs. In 2016 she represented team Canada at the Olympics. Then, this year, she once again wore the maple leaf at the Under-23 World Championships where she took home the gold. In college, she lead a WSU squad that was nationally ranked for her entire senior season. She also earned the CRCA National Scholar Athlete award three times throughout her college career.

The conference put together a video presentation for both recipients.

You can see all of the Tom Hansen Conference Medal winners here.

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