Nevada's 10 Most Outstanding Filipino-American Teachers of 2026 Honored by FAME

LAS VEGAS — Ten Filipino-American educators were honored as Nevada’s Most Outstanding Teachers of 2026 on April 25 at the Celebrity Center Las Vegas, capping a competitive selection from 29 finalists representing classrooms across the Clark County School District and beyond. The Filipino American Educators of Nevada (FAME) presented the annual awards before a packed audience of families, colleagues, and community leaders, recognizing teachers whose work has measurably shaped Southern Nevada classrooms.

Quick Facts: The 2026 FAME Awards

Award: 2026 Ten Most Outstanding Filipino-American Teachers of Nevada
Presented by: Filipino American Educators of Nevada (FAME)
Date: Saturday, April 25, 2026 at 4:00 PM
Venue: Celebrity Center Las Vegas, 2761 Emerson Street, Las Vegas, NV
Finalists this year: 29
Lead sponsor: Uplift Foundation International of Dr. Vi-anne Cadianza Calipusan and Alexis Calipusan

Read the Full April 27, 2026 Issue

Browse the complete digital edition of the Philippine Times of Southern Nevada below — including full coverage of the FAME Awards, Filipino Town updates, community columns, and more.

Meet Nevada’s 10 Most Outstanding Filipino American Teachers of 2026

The 2026 cohort spans elementary, middle, and high school classrooms — and reflects the depth of Filipino American leadership across Southern Nevada’s public education system. Here are the honorees, in alphabetical order by last name, along with the schools where their students benefit from their work every day.

Joshua Ryan Abellera — Las Vegas Academy of Arts High School

An educator at one of Nevada’s premier performing arts magnet schools, Joshua Ryan Abellera was recognized for his commitment to student development at the Las Vegas Academy of Arts High School in downtown Las Vegas.

Dr. Rufelio M. Aguilar — West Prep Academy

Dr. Rufelio M. Aguilar serves at West Prep Academy, a 6-12 grade school in the West Las Vegas community, where he was honored for his sustained classroom leadership.

Dr. Reniella P. Aunario — Daniel Goldfarb Elementary School

Dr. Reniella P. Aunario was recognized for her work shaping early literacy and student outcomes at Daniel Goldfarb Elementary School in the southwest Las Vegas Valley.

Marilou B. Cortes — Basic Academy of International Studies

Marilou B. Cortes brings rigor and global perspective to her students at the Basic Academy of International Studies in Henderson, Nevada — a magnet program serving the southeast valley.

Joey B. Lapuz — Wilbur & Theresa Faiss Middle School

Joey B. Lapuz was recognized for his impact on middle-schoolers at Wilbur & Theresa Faiss Middle School in the southwest Las Vegas Valley.

Dr. Shekaina Faith C. Lozada — Rancho High School

Dr. Shekaina Faith C. Lozada serves at Rancho High School in North Las Vegas, one of the district’s largest comprehensive high schools, where she was honored for her commitment to academic excellence.

Dr. Ruthsel Miguel Rodriguez — Mary & Zel Lowman Elementary School

Dr. Ruthsel Miguel Rodriguez was recognized for her leadership at Mary & Zel Lowman Elementary School in the central Las Vegas Valley.

Dr. Bernaldo F. Salvador — Western High School

Dr. Bernaldo F. Salvador serves at Western High School, a historic Clark County campus, and was honored for his ongoing influence on student achievement.

Louis Alexiz C. Urbina — Chaparral High School

Louis Alexiz C. Urbina brings energy and high expectations to his classroom at Chaparral High School in east Las Vegas.

Dr. Marijoy Vestil — Lois Craig Elementary School

Dr. Marijoy Vestil rounds out the cohort, recognized for her sustained excellence at Lois Craig Elementary School in North Las Vegas.

Inside the Selection Process

This year’s competition was unusually tight. According to Dr. Michael StaJuana, president of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations of Nevada and chairman of the FAME Board of Judges, the 29 finalists “were exceptionally qualified, making it a close competition” across multiple grade levels and school types.

Jean Mizell, president of the Filipino American Educators of Nevada, thanked the broader Filipino-American community for the support that made the awards possible. The ceremony was generously underwritten by the Uplift Foundation International, founded by Dr. Vi-anne Cadianza Calipusan and Alexis Calipusan, with additional support from Dr. Jun Yu of the Neurology Center of Nevada, Mildred Cadag of Pampanga Specialty Delicacies, Fiesta Cargo, and Minddie Lloyd.

The 10 honorees teach across the Clark County School District — Nevada’s largest school district and the fifth-largest public school district in the United States — at every grade level from elementary through high school.

Why This Matters for Filipino Las Vegas

Filipino-Americans make up one of the largest Asian-American communities in Southern Nevada — and Filipino educators have long been a pillar of the Clark County School District workforce. Awards like the FAME recognition do more than honor individual achievement. They make a community contribution visible.

For Filipino students growing up in Las Vegas, seeing teachers who share their heritage celebrated publicly is a powerful affirmation. For non-Filipino students and families, the awards highlight contributions that often go unrecognized in district-level coverage.

And for the educators themselves, FAME provides a community of peers — a network of Filipino-American teachers across grade levels and schools who can mentor one another, share resources, and advocate together for stronger schools.

About the Filipino American Educators of Nevada (FAME)

The Filipino American Educators of Nevada is a Las Vegas-based nonprofit organization that supports Filipino-American educators across the state. Through its annual awards program, scholarships, mentorship initiatives, and community partnerships, FAME celebrates excellence in teaching while strengthening the pipeline of Filipino-American leadership in public education.

The 2026 awards mark another milestone in a tradition of recognizing the educators who shape Southern Nevada classrooms day in and day out.

FAME’s work complements Nevada’s broader investment in public education. The state’s Department of Education oversees standards and policy across all 17 school districts statewide, of which Clark County is by far the largest.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who won the 2026 FAME Most Outstanding Filipino-American Teachers of Nevada award?

The ten 2026 honorees are Joshua Ryan Abellera, Dr. Rufelio M. Aguilar, Dr. Reniella P. Aunario, Marilou B. Cortes, Joey B. Lapuz, Dr. Shekaina Faith C. Lozada, Dr. Ruthsel Miguel Rodriguez, Dr. Bernaldo F. Salvador, Louis Alexiz C. Urbina, and Dr. Marijoy Vestil — representing schools across Clark County and Henderson, Nevada.

When and where was the 2026 FAME awards ceremony held?

The ceremony took place on Saturday, April 25, 2026, at 4:00 PM at the Celebrity Center Las Vegas, 2761 Emerson Street, Las Vegas, Nevada.

Who organizes the Most Outstanding Filipino-American Teachers of Nevada awards?

The awards are organized annually by the Filipino American Educators of Nevada (FAME), led by president Jean Mizell, with judging chaired by Dr. Michael StaJuana of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations of Nevada.

How many teachers were nominated for the 2026 awards?

This year’s selection process drew 29 finalists representing elementary, middle, and high schools across Nevada — making it one of the most competitive years in the awards’ history.

How can I nominate a teacher for next year’s FAME awards?

Nominations for the 2027 cohort will open later this year. Visit our Filipino Town section for updates, or contact FAME directly through the Filipino American Educators of Nevada.

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Reported by Sol Llasos for the Philippine Times of Southern Nevada. Originally published in print on April 27, 2026 (Vol. 21, No. 866). Updated for digital readers.