BHUSD Names 2026 Apple Award Honorees

The Beverly Hills Unified School District has announced its 2026 Apple Award honorees, recognizing a group of educators and staff members whose work supports students across the district and reflects BHUSD’s standard of Educational Excellence.

This year’s announcement carries added significance, as the Beverly Hills Education Foundation is bringing back the Apple Awards celebration for the first time in nearly a decade. The revived event will take place May 21, 2026, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Beverly Canon Gardens, where educators, families and community supporters are expected to gather to honor the district’s award recipients and celebrate the people behind BHUSD’s day-to-day success.

The 2026 Apple Award honorees are Afsaneh Tabibian, instructional assistant at Beverly Hills High School; Felipe Gomez of Maintenance and Operations; Karen Garland, program specialist at Horace Mann and Beverly Vista Middle School; Candace Hemphill, third grade teacher at El Rodeo; Ellen Kwon, fourth grade teacher at Horace Mann; Kunhee David Lee, history and AVID teacher at Beverly Hills High School; Kari Marlowe, program specialist at El Rodeo and Beverly Hills High School; Celeste McDonald, English teacher at Beverly Hills High School; Fred Pinto, visual and performing arts teacher at Beverly Vista Middle School; Laura Rogers, special education teacher at Beverly Vista Middle School; and Vivian Minor, administrative assistant at Beverly Vista Middle School.

“These extraordinary individuals represent the very best of who we are as a district,” said Board of Education President Judy Manouchehri. “They lead with heart, inspire with purpose, and show our students what is possible through dedication and care. Their impact reaches far beyond the classroom, shaping lives, strengthening our community, and defining Educational Excellence in action. We are proud to honor them and deeply grateful for the difference they make every single day.”

BHEF President Tina Wiener said the foundation is excited to restore the Apple Awards as part of a larger celebration that also highlights donor generosity and Innovative Teacher Grant recipients.

“The Beverly Hills Education Foundation is absolutely thrilled to be hosting BHEF HONORS this year, which combines the opportunity to celebrate the generosity of our BHEF donors and the creativity of our Innovative Teacher Grant award winners, along with publicly honoring the remarkable educators, administrators and staff members who have earned Apple Awards in 2026,” Wiener said. “After a decade-long hiatus, we are excited to be bringing this beloved tradition back to our community. This event is a testament to the spirit of excellence that defines our district, and we’re proud to shine a spotlight on the people who make that excellence possible.”

District officials said the Apple Awards reflect the wide range of roles that contribute to student success across BHUSD, from classroom instruction to campus support and district operations. The return of the celebration also marks a renewed effort to publicly recognize the people whose work helps make the district’s schools and programs possible.

With the event returning after years away, BHUSD and BHEF are framing this year’s ceremony not only as a tribute to individual honorees, but also as a broader moment of connection and appreciation across the school community.