DENVER – University of Hawai'i multi-sport athlete
Amber Kaufman is the women's recipient of the 2009-10 Western Athletic Conference Joe Kearney Award. Kaufman is the third female multi-sport athlete to win the award and the second from UH.
Boise State's Kellen Moore is the male recipient and the first Bronco football player to win the award.
Named in honor of former WAC commissioner Joe Kearney, the awards are given annually to the top male and female student-athletes in the WAC. Kearney, who passed away earlier last month at the age of 83, was the commissioner of the WAC from 1980-94.
Kaufman, a senior from San Jose, Calif, was named an All-American in two sports this past year. She began the season by helping to lead the volleyball team to the Final Four in 2009 and was ranked fourth in the country in hitting percentage (.431).
In March, she was the runner-up in the high jump at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championship and then captured the national title in the event at the Outdoor Championship earlier this month. She has earned All-American honors in track and field five times during her career and also earned academic all-WAC honors all four years at Hawai'i.
“Amber is an exceptional athlete who has world-class ability,” said Senior Woman Administrator
Marilyn Moniz-Kaho'ohanohano. “She has also performed well in the classroom and continues to succeed on both the volleyball court and in track and field. Her enthusiasm and motivation allowed her teammates to feed off of her on the volleyball court and her determination and exceptional leaping ability made her a national champion in track and field.”
Kaufman joins former Rainbow Wahine volleyball players Kanoe Kamana'o (2005-06 & '06-07) and Kim Willoughby (2002-03 & '03-04) as Kearney Award winners.
UH's Joe Kearney Award Recipients
2007-08 Emma Friesen, Diving
2006-07 Colt Brennan, Football
Kanoe Kamana'o, Volleyball
2005-06 Kanoe Kamana'o, Volleyball
2003-04 Kim Willoughby, Volleyball
2002-03 Kim Willoughby, Volleyball/Basketball
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