This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

The Pac-12 announced Tuesday that Utah basketball player Brandon Taylor and gymnast Breanna Hughes have won the prestigious Tom Hansen Conference Medal, awarded annually to each Pac-12 school's outstanding senior male and female student-athlete based on a combination of athletic and academic excellence.

Hughes is a five-time All-American who won the 2016 Pac-12 all-around and vault champion and NCAA Regional all-around title, leading the Utes to an NCAA Championships berth.

Hughes, a Champlin, Minn. native who earned a bachelor's degree in human development and family studies with a cumulative 3.965 GPA, joins Utah men's basketball player Brandon Taylor in receiving the honor given to outstanding senior male and female student athletes who exhibit a combination of performance, achievement in scholarship, athletics and leadership.

Hughes plans to finish another degree in health, society, and policy with nursing pre-requisites in Spring 2017.

Taylor led Utah in steals and assists while helping guide the Utes to the second round of the NCAA tournament this past season. A Pac-12 All-Defensive First Team selection, Taylor closed out his four-year career with the Utes ranked No. 3 all-time with 164 career steals. He also ranks among the top-10 in three-pointers, assists and games played.

A native of Los Angeles, Taylor graduated this past May with a bachelor's degree in psychology with a cumulative GPA of 3.435. Taylor was named to the Pac-12 All-Academic first team his final three seasons at Utah and was named the league's Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2015-16.

Taylor was an active volunteer in numerous community service projects throughout the Salt Lake City area.

The 24 Tom Hansen Medal recipients from 2015-2016 will appear on the Pac-12 Networks Pride of the Pac special on Thursday, July 6 at 8 p.m.