The Kaylee Xiong Scholarship Fund

Honoring Kaylee Xiong: A Scholarship in Her Memory As teachers, we aren’t supposed to have favorites—but if I’m being honest, Kaylee Xiong was one of mine. Kaylee was the kind of student who left a lasting impact. She spent more time at my desk than just about anyone, chatting about life, sharing funny stories, and showing off the latest adorable photos of her baby sister, Harperlynn. She was smart, driven, and competitive—but also knew exactly when to take it easy and enjoy the moment. But don’t be fooled—Kaylee hated losing (at anything) and held onto one of the most legendary academic grudges I’ve ever seen. She had straight A’s her entire school career—until one teacher in her senior year gave her a B+. She was furious and wouldn’t let it go, doing everything in her power to bring it up to an A. To this day, I don’t know if she ever did—but I do know that if that teacher is reading this, she absolutely remembered. Kaylee was a talented graphic designer, a natural leader, and, above all, an amazing person. She graduated from Valley High School in 2024, following in the footsteps of her older brother, Nicholas. Both pursued graphic design at Sacramento State University, where Kaylee had just started her first semester when her life was tragically cut short.