TEMPE – Turner Washington (men's track & field) and Audrey Ernst (triathlon) are the 2022-23 Pac-12 Tom Hansen Medal award winners for Arizona State, the conference announced Thursday.
The honor is given annually to an outstanding senior male and female student-athlete from each of the conference's 12 institutions for "the greatest combination of performance and achievement in scholarship, athletics, and leadership."
Washington is the fourth member of the Sun Devil Track & Field team to receive the men's award and the first since Ryan Whiting in 2010. A nine-time All-American, Washington capped off an impressive Sun Devils' career with his fifth NCAA title, winning the discus on his final throw. The 2021 USTFCCCA Indoor Male Field Athlete of the Year holds the NCAA record for Indoor Shot Put and leaves ASU as the all-time leader in that event and the Outdoor Discus.
Washington also excelled in the classroom. After earning an undergrad degree in Biological Sciences, he maintained a 3.81 GPA in graduate school for Sports Law and Business. The 2023 Pac-12 Men's Scholar-Athlete of the Year is a three-time CSC Academic All-American Honoree and was named CSC XCTF Academic All-American Team Member of the Year three years in a row.
Ernst becomes the first from Sun Devil Triathlon to earn the Hansen Medal of Honor. Since arriving in Tempe in 2018, Ernst quickly became integral to the program's run of six national championship titles. She had three runner-up finishes her sophomore year, including the 2019 National Championship, to secure victory for the Sun Devils. Ernst concluded her Sun Devil career by being named honorable mention at the 2021 National Championship, where she finished 15th.
While at ASU, Ernst completed two degrees -- Public Health Administration and Nursing -- while maintaining a cumulative 3.94 GPA. A three-time CTCA Scholar All-American, Ernst was named to the Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll two times. She was a peer health educator at Sun Devil Wellness, coaching her peers on substance abuse, coping strategies and promoting overall well-being. She served as the SAAC President and Wellness chair and participated in the Tip of the Fork leadership cohort. In her freshman year, Ernst was an onboarding chair for Student Outreach for Wellness, where she volunteered at community health fairs in marginalized communities.
The honor is given annually to an outstanding senior male and female student-athlete from each of the conference's 12 institutions for "the greatest combination of performance and achievement in scholarship, athletics, and leadership."
?? ?????????? ???? ?????? ?????? ??
— Pac-12 Conference (@pac12) June 29, 2023
The 2022-23 Tom Hansen Conference Medal recognizes each school's outstanding senior male & female student-athlete based on performance & achievement in scholarship, athletics & leadership.
?? » https://t.co/xn2eE1azff#BackThePac
Washington is the fourth member of the Sun Devil Track & Field team to receive the men's award and the first since Ryan Whiting in 2010. A nine-time All-American, Washington capped off an impressive Sun Devils' career with his fifth NCAA title, winning the discus on his final throw. The 2021 USTFCCCA Indoor Male Field Athlete of the Year holds the NCAA record for Indoor Shot Put and leaves ASU as the all-time leader in that event and the Outdoor Discus.
Washington also excelled in the classroom. After earning an undergrad degree in Biological Sciences, he maintained a 3.81 GPA in graduate school for Sports Law and Business. The 2023 Pac-12 Men's Scholar-Athlete of the Year is a three-time CSC Academic All-American Honoree and was named CSC XCTF Academic All-American Team Member of the Year three years in a row.
Legend. pic.twitter.com/31RgaakNqM
— Sun Devil Track and Field/XC (@SunDevilTFXC) June 10, 2023
Ernst becomes the first from Sun Devil Triathlon to earn the Hansen Medal of Honor. Since arriving in Tempe in 2018, Ernst quickly became integral to the program's run of six national championship titles. She had three runner-up finishes her sophomore year, including the 2019 National Championship, to secure victory for the Sun Devils. Ernst concluded her Sun Devil career by being named honorable mention at the 2021 National Championship, where she finished 15th.
While at ASU, Ernst completed two degrees -- Public Health Administration and Nursing -- while maintaining a cumulative 3.94 GPA. A three-time CTCA Scholar All-American, Ernst was named to the Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll two times. She was a peer health educator at Sun Devil Wellness, coaching her peers on substance abuse, coping strategies and promoting overall well-being. She served as the SAAC President and Wellness chair and participated in the Tip of the Fork leadership cohort. In her freshman year, Ernst was an onboarding chair for Student Outreach for Wellness, where she volunteered at community health fairs in marginalized communities.
Congratulations to Audrey Ernst and Grant House from @ASUSwimDive on being named this year's Kajikawa Award winners.
— Sun Devil Triathlon (@sundeviltri) May 9, 2023
The duo was honored for their academic excellence, athletic accomplishment, leadership & service in the community.
?? https://t.co/WVzx52AsMM #ForksUp | #O2V pic.twitter.com/uLl9Psfk3j