PanAPIDA Circle

Judge REYNALDO ALIGADA, JR. was appointed last month to the Minnesota Supreme Court, becoming first Asian Pacific American justice in state history.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz announced the appointment of Judge Reynaldo "Reggie" Aligada, Jr. '02 to serve as associate justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court. Judge Aligada will join the bench as the first Asian Pacific American justice in Minnesota history, wrote the Minnesota Asian Pacific American Bar Association (MNAPABA).

"I am humbled and honored to be selected as an associate justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court," said Judge Aligada in a press release from the Office of Governor Tim Walz and Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan. "I am so grateful to the Governor and his team for entrusting me with this great responsibility. I recognize the impact the Court’s decisions have on the lives of Minnesotans, and I will strive to do justice and protect the rule of law."

Judge Aligada currently serves as a district court judge for the Second Judicial District of Minnesota. He will fill the position of associate justice in the fall.

Read the full press release at the link below.
https://mitchellhamline.edu/news/2026/05/19/judge-reynaldo-aligada-jr-appointed-first-asian-pacific-american-justice-in-minnesota-history/

Enjoy a screening of WARREN KING: KING OF CARDBOARD, a PBS American Masters documentary short that traces the artist's unlikely path from structural engineer to figurative sculptor.

Follow Warren King as he transforms cardboard into intricate sculptural reflections of his Chinese-American family's immigration and his path from engineer to artist. Preparing for a Wisconsin homecoming show, King explores belonging through art.

About the American Masters Series
"Warren King: King of Cardboard" is part of "In The Making," a documentary shorts series from American Masters and Firelight Media that follows emerging cultural icons on their journeys to becoming masters of their artistic disciplines.

https://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/warren-king-king-of-cardboard/38103/

Watch two AAPI icons as they speak to Harvard University 2026 graduates and alumni -- RONNY CHIENG, The Daily Show and JONNY KIM, NASA astronaut.

* RONNY CHIENG, an Emmy Award-winning actor, comedian, and correspondent for The Daily Show, delivers remarks to the Harvard Class of 2026 during the Harvard College Class Day on Wednesday, May 27th.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORq_Hi5dB-g

* JONNY KIM, NASA astronaut, Harvard-trained physician, and decorated Navy SEAL, delivers the keynote address at the annual Harvard Alumni Day celebration on June 5th.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G96-xYqw0rQ

Enjoy the videos!

Penn State has selected PROFESSOR VASANT HONAVAR as the inaugural vice provost for artificial intelligence (AI) to guide a comprehensive AI strategy and advance the University's leadership in human-centered and ethical AI innovation across teaching, learning, research and operations.

In this new position, Honavar reports to Senior Vice Provost and Chief of Staff Josh Davis. He will collaboratively develop and implement Penn State's AI TRANSFORMATION INITIATIVE, working closely with Executive Vice President and Provost Fotis Sotiropoulos and leaders across colleges, campuses and administrative units to ensure that Penn State's AI strategy aligns with the University's institutional values and long‑term strategic goals.

Honavar will collaborate with the AI Coordinating Council, the AI Student Advisory Group, and other AI working groups and advisory bodies.

Photo: Penn State. Creative Commons

Read the full article that details Professor Honavar's extenstive qualifications to lead the development of Penn State's AI strategy.
https://www.psu.edu/news/administration/story/vasant-honavar-named-vice-provost-artificial-intelligence-penn-state

Learn more about Penn State's AI Transformation initiative.
https://www.psu.edu/news/administration/story/penn-state-makes-strategic-investments-prepare-students-ai-driven-future

You can also visit the University's AI website for more information.
https://ai.psu.edu/

Grab a cup of coffee and listen to this charming podcast interview with MINA KIMES -- an Emmy nominated NFL analyst and a Celebrity Jeopardy champion. Her latest career milestone was hosting the Scripps National Spelling Bee at the end of May.

Kimes is having one of the more unexpected and genuinely delightful career pivots in sports media right now, and the story of how it came together runs directly through her time on Celebrity Jeopardy.

Enjoy the podcast.
https://podcasts.apple.com/ci/podcast/mina-kimes-on-hosting-the-spelling-bee-sports-emmy/id1579078258?i=1000769085761

Spotlight on the the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee champion -- 14-year-old SHREY PARIKH from Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.

After three days of competition in May, the pool of nine finalists dropped to two: Parikh and 12-year-old Ishaan Gupta from Jersey City, N.J. After each had nailed their eighth respective word, officials carried a sleek silver podium — with a buzzer on top — onto the stage, prompting huge gasps from the crowd. It was time for a spell-off.

"I was not excited at all, because to be honest, regular spelling I feel like is a much better show of what spelling is meant to be," Parikh told reporters immediately after his win. "But I accepted the fact that there was going to be a spell-off, I calmed my mind, I got some water … and I just tried to take it all in stride and do the best I could."

It's only the third time a spell-off has decided the spelling bee since it was introduced in 2021.

Photo: Allison Robbert/AP

Read more about this year's fierce spelling bee competition.
https://www.npr.org/2026/05/29/nx-s1-5837572/scripps-national-spelling-bee-shrey-parikh-spell-off

Thank you to PanAPIDA Circle member Hyeseon Kim for organizing and presenting Sunday's APIDA HERITAGE MONTH CELEBRATION FOR KIDS at the Schlow Centre Region Library!

The children and their parents enjoyed the activites -- learning how to fold ORIGAMI MOON JARS, decorating a special LIBERTY BELL ornament -- as well as browsing through the display of 18+ APIDA children's books available from the library.

Also thanks to PanAPIDA Circle members Sharon Fong and Sandy Fong as well as the Schlow Centre Region Library staff and volunteer for their assistance in making the event informative and entertaining for the families.

Looking forward to next year's APIDA HERITAGE MONTH CELEBRATION FOR KIDS!

Thank you to the Centre County Board of Commissioners for proclaiming May 2026 to be ASIAN AMERICAN, NATIVE HAWAIIAN, PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH and for encouraging all residents to celebrate the history and culture of those of Asian, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander origin and their vital contributions to the community.

The Centre County proclamation was issued on Tuesday, May 26th and accepted by PanAPIDA Circle members Nalini Krishnankutty and Qingyuan Lu.

Photo caption: Amber Concepcion, Mark Higgins, Qingyuan Lu, Nalini Krishnankutty, Steven G. Dershem
Photo credit: Centre County Commissioners' Office

Watch the CNET video of the Centre County Board of Commissioners May 26th meeting.
https://videoplayer.telvue.com/player/GNduNoua2rBThhw6N4PRP9OCSPf6B2ru/media/1024799

TODAY is the day! Join us at the APIDA HERITAGE MONTH CELEBRATION FOR KIDS at the Schlow Centre Region Library on Sunday, May 31st (TODAY). Recommended for grades K-5.

Learn to fold ORIGAMI JARS inspired by the Moon Jar painting. Plus, decorate a special LIBERTY BELL ornament to celebrate the country's 250th anniversary.

Event Details
Date/Time: Sunday, May 31st (TODAY) from 2:30pm to 3:30pm
Location: Schlow Centre Region Library, 211 South Allen Street, State College, PA

Please register before the class by clicking on the link below.
https://www.schlowlibrary.org/events/4592/registrations/add

Don't forget to register for the APIDA HERITAGE MONTH KIDS CELEBRATION at the Schlow Centre Region Library on Sunday, May 31st. Recommended for grades K-5.

Learn to fold ORIGAMI JARS inspired by the Moon Jar painting. Plus, decorate a special LIBERTY BELL ornament to celebrate the country's 250th anniversary.

Event Details
Date/Time: Sunday, May 31st from 2:30pm to 3:30pm
Location: Schlow Centre Region Library, 211 South Allen Street, State College, PA

Photos: PhotoAC, HelenV Photography

https://www.schlowlibrary.org/events/4592/registrations/add