Doug McArthur Lifetime Achievement Award (continued)

the WSSAAA State Conference in 2005–06 and has been a frequent instructor of leadership training courses at the conference.

Between 2000 and 2006, Malich was the Pierce County League AD of the year twice and the Seamount League AD of the year twice. In 2006, she was the West Central District AD of the year and the WSSAAA Washington State Athletic Director of the Year.

Malich is equally involved with the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA). She is a 16-year member of the Executive Board and was its president in 2015–2016. She received the WIAA’s Gareth Giles Award for leadership and service at the WIAA Representative Assembly in 2019.

Beyond leadership and administration of the events on the field or court, Malich has championed several initiatives to connect student-athletes to community service, locally and as far away as Nicaragua where she led a group constructing a village well.

Given the depth of commitment to school and leadership endeavors makes it more remarkable that Malich also raised four athletically busy kids as a single mom. Malich has also run a small arts and crafts business and beaten breast cancer along the way.

Before building her résumé as an administrator, Malich was an accomplished athlete. From cheerleading to bodybuilding, she was a multi-talented competitor. She was a four-year letter-winner, and four-time state meet participant, in track at Peninsula High before competing at Western Washington University. Malich was a two-time All-American in the 400-meter hurdles. She broke the WWU record in the event and placed 3rd and 4th in two trips to the NAIA national meet. She was also a WWU cheerleader and was named the university’s female athlete of the year in 1983. She spent some time training as a competitive bodybuilder before returning to WWU to complete her Bachelor’s in Education. In 1996, she added a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration from the University of Puget Sound.