Congratulations To Our Steve Phelps Scholarship Winners!
Congratulations to our 2025 Steve Phelps American Dream Scholarship recipients: Romela Khan, Maliaha Calhoun, Cassandra Vue, and Alliah Saidwal!
Each year, Visions proudly honors the legacy of beloved former teacher Steve Phelps through a scholarship established in his name. This $600 award supports Visions students who plan to attend a community college after high school, helping them take the next step toward their educational goals.
This year’s scholarship recipients shared moving essays about the people who have inspired them most—from family members who instilled values of hard work and discipline, to friends whose memory and passion for life continue to motivate them every day.
“No matter the time and the situation, my dad would always make us happy and support us in any way he could. He would always support me in school. He was like my best friend. My mom is always there to support my siblings and me when she is unhappy and depressed. My parents were inspirational because they would always smile to see us smile. No matter the challenges they faced, they kept going just to see us happy and successful.” – Romela Khan
“As I aged and kept watching Gordon’s cooking and the advice he always gave to the young chefs, I became more motivated to pursue my dreams of following in his footsteps… At the young age of 18, I am now enrolled at Contra Costa Community College, pursuing a degree in Culinary Arts. I will also take classes centered around business management and hospitality. I will one day own my own hospitality business and I will serve food for others in a way that transforms the way they experience food, ingredients and help to provide nostalgia while healing any trauma surrounding food. I will help others the way that Gordon Ramsay helped me.” – Maliaha Calhoun
“As a Hmong woman, (my mother) grew up with limited opportunities and responsibility. Despite this, she didn’t let that stop her from achieving her dreams of working hard to support her family to get the life she dreamed of. This inspired me to work hard for what I want to achieve in the future and the opportunity/chance to when she couldn’t. She is my biggest inspiration to continue my education further after high school and to work hard to make my dreams come true. She poured hours and her energy into supporting our family.” – Cassandra Vue
“Through this journey, I’ve learned that strength isn’t about the absence of hardship, but about having the ability to persevere in the face of it. Every challenge I’ve faced has shaped me into the person I am today, one who accepts change, never gives up, and values the connections made through shared adversity. I learned that I should surround myself with positive people instead of negative ones and look for friendships that are based on loyalty and trust. I look to the future while keeping with me the lessons learned from the past. My goal is to show others that even in the darkest moments, hope is still possible.” – Alliah Saidwal
Congratulations to our Steve Phelps American Dream Scholarship recipients! We wish you all the best in college and thank you for helping us keep the memory of Steve Phelps alive.
Remembering Steve Phelps
Steve Phelps was a dedicated Visions teacher from 2003 until his passing in 2008. Having faced his own challenges in school, Steve found his path with the help of a mentor teacher. He became a passionate advocate for the community college system, seeing it as an accessible and valuable pathway to higher education.
Prior to his passing, Steve created a scholarship to support students who took community college courses during high school and planned to continue at a community college after graduation. Today, in his honor, Visions partners with Sober Riders to raise funds and award scholarships each year in Steve’s name—carrying forward his mission of empowering students on their journey to success and lifelong learning.