The Malik James Final Act Memorial Scholarship was established in 2025, in the loving memory of Malik James, whose passion for storytelling, performance, and the transformative power of the arts continues to inspire others. This scholarship honors their belief that acting is not only a craft, but a calling—one that builds empathy, courage, discipline, and human connection.

This award supports high school seniors with acceptance letter to acting program, undergraduate, and graduate students who are pursuing an acting degree and who demonstrate artistic promise, dedication to their craft, and a commitment to personal and creative growth. We seek students who approach acting with curiosity, integrity, and a desire to use their voice to tell meaningful stories.

Recipients of this scholarship reflect the spirit of Malik James through their perseverance, generosity of spirit, and belief in the power of the performing arts to challenge, heal, and unite. Whether on stage, on screen, or in the classroom, these students carry forward a legacy of passion, creativity, and purpose.

Through this scholarship, we aim not only to ease the financial burden of arts education, but also to affirm the importance of pursuing one’s dreams—and to ensure that Malik’s love for acting lives on in the next generation of artists.