SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash. – The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association presented the inaugural “Jace Malek True Spirit Award” in honor of the West Valley High School grad who died in February.
Malek was diagnosed with cancer in his hip during his senior year of high school and had just committed to the University of Idaho to play football when he got the news. U of I honored his scholarship anyway and made him part of the team.
The creation of the award came as a way to honor Malek’s family. The WIAA took the idea one step further and decided to present the award to his family and then each year after it will be awarded to a student athlete.
On Thursday, hundreds gathered as the WIAA presented Malek’s family with the award in the West Valley High School gymnasium.