Maybe only in the middle of the Pacific could a linebacker from South Central Los Angeles and a heptathlete from Germany win a college athletic department's most prestigious awards.

Warrior football player Solomon Elimimian and Rainbow Wahine track and field "Germanator" Annett Wichmann, two of the most prolific athletes in University of Hawai'i history, were named Jack Bonham Award winners at last night's Scholar-Athlete Dinner at the Stan Sheriff Center.

The award is given annually to the top male and female senior student-athlete who "best exemplifies the ideals for which Jack Bonham stood for in the areas of athletic excellence, academic achievement, public service, leadership and character." Bonham, former UH assistant athletics director, died in a 1974 plane crash.

The night honored 183 student-athletes with at least a 3.0 grade- point average. Every sport was represented except men's basketball.

Elimimian is on the Mainland, where he will audition for the Buffalo Bills this week. He is on track to graduate in English and left as UH's career leader in tackles.

All that came after he persevered through an immensely difficult freshman year in a place that seemed the polar opposite of home.

"Hawai'i is totally different than South Central L.A.," Elimimian said by phone. "I would spend $400 to come home for two or three days, that's how homesick I was. But now I'm already starting to miss Hawai'i — how the people embraced me and treated me and my family ... that's something I'll always be grateful for. It will always have a place in my heart."

As will his teammates, who shared thousands of hours of practice and thousands of miles of travel, including the remarkable ride to the Sugar Bowl his junior year. Elimimian's only regret is that, through all his accomplishments, he didn't enjoy the ride more.

"I remember all the guys telling me I was going to miss college, make the most of it, enjoy it, have fun," he recalled. "I didn't realize that. I was so anxious to move to the next stage in my life so I didn't take heed. The big thing I'd tell somebody now is to enjoy the time you have and understand it's going to come to an end, and when it does you want to look back and know you used that time well."

Wichmann, another popular choice last night, also came from a place very different than paradise. Her smooth transition to a foreign land and language, and a grin that hides a rare relentlessness have made her one of the country's most talented and versatile track and field athletes. She has broken more than 40 UH records. After winning the pentathlon at the WAC Indoor Championship two months ago, she went on to score points in the high jump, long jump, triple jump and shot put.

She said last night that her transition to college, like Elimimian's, was difficult.

"The first year was really hard, letting go of Germany, stepping into a new life" Wichmann said. "But when I came back the second year I had friends.

"What I will miss most is the whole time I spent with the lovely people here. I will miss them so much. ... If you are in Hawai'i, you have to enjoy everyday. How can you not?"

Her accomplishments outside the track are just as exceptional, from learning to surf, paddle and salsa in paradise, to academic All-American the past two years. While her coach, Carmyn James, believes she would make "an amazing coach," Wichmann dreams of being a sports psychologist after her athletic career is done in a few years.

"All the experiences I have been through, I can relate to all the athletes to get the best out of them," Wichmann said. "I'd like to make them see there is so much more to come and more to do."