TEMPE, Ariz. – Sun Devils Athletics today announced that Mike Bercovici (football) and Elisha Davis (women’s basketball) were named the winners of the Kajikawa Award, annually presented to one male and one female graduating senior student-athlete in recognition for his/her contributions at Arizona State University.
The Sun Devil Athletics Nomination Board selects the Kajikawa Award recipients based on demonstrated academic excellence, athletic accomplishment, leadership and service in the community.
A four-year letterwinner at quarterback, Bercovici tallied 5,333 passing yards, 42 touchdowns and 13 interceptions on 438 completions and added 418 career rushing yards in 41 career games with 16 starts. He finished with a 137.9 career passing efficiency rating and accounted for 48 career touchdowns. Off the field, Bercovici earned two degrees from ASU: Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management in May 2014 and Master’s degree in Sports Law and Business in December 2015. Bercovici, who was named to the Pac-12 All-Academic Team three times, was named the 2015 Pac-12 Football Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Bercovici dedicated more than 50 hours at various kid’s camps and youth clinics throughout his career and committed another 50-plus hours in a number of visits during his five years at ASU, including multiple trips to the Phoenix Children’s Hospital and the Carson Children’s Hospital in Mesa, as well as multiple elementary and middle schools across the state.
A four-year letterwinner and two-year starter at point guard, Davis concluded her career No. 2 on ASU’s all-time list for career assists (483) and also finished second on ASU’s all-time list for most career assists in the NCAA Tournament (34). Over the last three years Davis helped lead the Sun Devils to 78 wins and three NCAA Tournament appearances, including a trip to the Sweet 16 in 2015. Davis earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Communication in December 2015 and is currently working toward her Master’s degree in Communication. In the community Davis, who was nominated for the Senior CLASS Award earlier this year, did more than 150 hours of community service during her ASU career. Her community endeavors included volunteering at the Boys and Girls Club of Tempe, the annual Komen Race for the Cure in Phoenix and the annual Pat’s Run in Tempe. She also spoke at elementary schools in the area.
The Kajikawa Award is named after Sun Devil coaching legend Bill Kajikawa, who had worked as the freshman football coach under nine ASU head football coaches. In addition, he served as head basketball coach from 1948 to 1957, and he was head coach of ASU's club baseball team from 1947 to 1957. He was inducted into the Arizona Basketball Hall of Fame in 1968 and the ASU Hall of Distinction in 1982.
Past Bill Kajikawa Award Winners
2005
Jason Braxton – MBB
Agnes Kovacs – WSW
2006
Alejandro Canizares – MGO
Manya Makoski – WSO
2007
Niklas Lemke – MGO
Emily Westerberg – WBB
2008
Jason Trulson – MWR
Sarah Stevens – WTR
2009
TJ Bellama – MTE
Danielle Orsillo – WBB
2010
Ryan Whiting – MTR
Juliana Murcia – WGO
2011
Thomas Weber – FB
Mary Atkinson – GYM
Hillary Bach – SB
2012
John Kline – MTR
Katelyn Boyd – SB
2013
Carrick Felix – MBB
Constance Ezugha – WTR
2014
Garrett Baker-Slama – MTR
Anna Jelmini – WTR
2015
Taylor Kelly – FB
Shelby Houlihan – WTR
2016
Mike Bercovici – FB
Elisha Davis – WBB