Rivera Receives Yale University Educator Award

by Ronnie Zamora/LFCISD

Los Fresnos High School physics teacher has selected as a recipient of the 2019 Yale University Educator Award.

The award, sponsored by the Yale University Office of Undergraduate Admissions, recognizes educators from around the world who inspire and support their students to perform at high levels and to achieve academic excellence.

Five of the 73 recipients – 55 teachers and 18 counselors – are teachers from Texas high schools. There were 311 nominees from the 1,554 members of the Class of 2023.

Freshmen students entering the Yale Class of 2023 were asked to nominate outstanding educators who deeply impacted their lives. Rivera was nominated for the award by LFHS graduate Enrique Valencia, the salutatorian of the Class of 2019. Rivera was then selected as a winner by a committee in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

Rivera has seven years of teaching experience, including six at Los Fresnos High School. He earned a double undergraduate major in Physics and Mathematics from The University of Texas Pan American, a Master of Science in Applied and Engineering Physics from Cornell University and a Ph.D. in Applied and Engineering Physics, also from Cornell.

Yale is a top research university with a unique emphasis on undergraduate liberal arts education. Yale offers admission to students without regard to their ability to pay, and meets 100 percent of every student’s financial need with an award that does not include loans.