Backup singer to the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Granddaughter of civil rights activists. High school district board member. Dr. Vicki Calhoun already has a long list of accomplishments. Her latest endeavor? Bringing the spirit back to Fullerton College.
Calhoun, a dedicated and lifelong cheerleader, has revitalized Fullerton College’s cheerleading program after its one-year absence. Her deep connection to cheerleading extends beyond personal passion—it’s part of her enduring legacy. A Hall of Fame member at Fullerton College, she not only celebrated success during her time as a student but also returned to champion the revival of the program, ensuring its impact resonates for future generations.
Instead of accepting the loss, Calhoun decided to rebuild the cheerleading program from the ground up. Her leadership skills, shaped by her years as a cheerleader, gave her the confidence to take on the challenge.
“Cheerleading kept me going even though I felt isolated,” she says, reflecting on her youth as one of the few African American students in her elementary school. It gave her strength and connection, which she wanted to bring back to Fullerton College as staff member.
Calhoun approached Fullerton College President Cynthia Olivo with her idea in 2023, and with Olivo’s support, she began recruiting students from nearby high schools with members of varying experience levels. Les-Sie’ Crockrom, who works in Student Life and Leadership, says the team slowly grew stronger, learning to trust one another and perfect their routines. Crockrom says Calhoun’s determination kept them going, reminding them they were building something bigger than themselves.
Calhoun, herself, has performed on some of the biggest stages in the world. She was a background singer for the Red Hot Chili Peppers in 1989, when they first broke into the Billboard top 200 chart. “We charted for the first time, and I got to see parts of the world I’d never seen before,” she says of her time with the band. These experiences have shaped her work with students, teaching them to dream big and work hard.
Today, the Fullerton College cheer program is thriving, with 25 students in the 2024-2025 cohort from all over Orange County coming together to showcase their school pride.
Calhoun’s journey as a cheerleader and coach has shaped her approach to helping others. “I’m a people person, and I like helping others,” she says. She works with those earning high school diplomas later in life and helps students in juvenile halls access programs like Rising Scholars, which help them continue their education. “Going to graduations and seeing their faces when they get their diplomas—it’s incredible,” she says.
As a member of the Fullerton Joint Union High School District Board of Trustees, Calhoun says she works to make schools more inclusive and fun, organizing pep rallies and planning majorette performances for sports events. This commitment to education is deeply rooted in her family’s history. Calhoun’s grandfather marched with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and her uncle participated in the funeral procession for former U.S. attorney general and New York Senator Robert F. Kennedy in 1968. “Education was something we fought for in our family,” she says. “That’s why I pushed myself to get my doctorate.”
Looking back, Calhoun is grateful for the opportunities Fullerton College gave her. “This was the right step for me,” she says. “My parents didn’t have a lot of money, so it was affordable. Back then, tuition was just $5.”
Her vision for the future is one of growth and connection. Calhoun aspires to continue her dedication to strong leadership and connecting with students.
This appeared in the Summer 2025 print issue of Inside Fullerton.
