Two Arvin High School Educators Honored with Yale Educator Award

Two Arvin High School educators have earned national recognition from Yale University for the impact they have made on their students.

Gerardo Guzman and Matthew Regpala have been selected as recipients of the 2026 Yale Educator Award, an honor presented by the Yale University Office of Undergraduate Admissions to educators who inspire and support students in reaching high levels of achievement.

Both educators were nominated by the same former Arvin High School student, Yaquelin Acosta Vasquez, who is now a member of Yale University’s Class of 2030.

Incoming Yale students are invited to nominate high school educators who made a significant difference in their lives. A committee of Yale admissions officers then reviews each nomination individually and selects the recipients.

This year, Yale received 307 nominations representing educators from 39 states and 20 countries. Just 67 educators — 50 teachers and 17 counselors — were selected for the 2026 award.

Guzman and Regpala were among them.

According to Yale, the recognition is intended to highlight the important role exceptional educators play in shaping students’ futures and encouraging them to pursue their goals.

The fact that Acosta Vasquez nominated two educators from her time at Arvin High School underscores the network of support that helped shape her path from Kern County to one of the nation’s most selective universities.

Yale’s Class of 2030 includes 1,652 students who began their first semester in August. They graduated from more than 1,200 high schools across the country and around the world.

As Yale Educator Award recipients, Guzman and Regpala each received a congratulatory letter and an engraved desk set from the university.

Through the award, Yale’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions says it hopes to recognize educators whose influence begins long before students arrive on its campus — teachers and counselors who motivate students, encourage their ambitions and help them see what is possible for their futures.

Arvin High School math teacher Matthew Regpala, right, has served the school for 28 years. Dual-enrollment counselor Gerardo Guzman, right, has been at Arvin High for eight years.