The award, named after the late WAC commissioner, recognizes academic and athletic achievements. The recipient also receives a $2,000 post-graduate scholarship.

"That's cool," said Uchima, who earned a bachelor's degree in animal science in May.

Rice's James Adam Davis, a track and field athlete, was the male scholar-athlete winner.

Uchima, who had a 3.8 cumulative grade-point average, has been accepted to Michigan State University's veterinary school.

Uchima, who was raised in Torrance, Calif., hit .327 and scored a team-high 31 runs this past season.

"Looking at the company she's in and the people she beat out, this is a great honor," UH coach Bob Coolen said.

Uchima also was the Sergeant at Arms of the Hawai'i Roaract Club, a teacher's aid and reader at Hokulani and Noelani elementary schools and veterinarian assistant at the Honolulu Zoo.

"I saw a list of her recent accomplishments, and it was two pages long," Coolen said. "I asked her, 'How did you have time for this?' She made time. It was one of those situations where she wanted to give back for everything she's received. Having that attitude was overwhelming for me. To do all of that, and to have a 3.8 GPA is exceptional."

Uchima said her sacrifices resulted in her dream of attending veterinary school.

"It was all a compromise," she said. "OK, I won't go to so-and-so's party. Maybe I'll study. There were long hours, and maybe I didn't sleep a lot, but everything worked out."