Benny Shendo, Jr. joined numerous members of New Mexico's public health, medical and social services community today to honor the lifetime work of Josephina Trujillo Waconda, a pioneer in public health in New Mexico.
From the podium, Benny shared with the audience of Waconda's family and friends how when he was a boy, Josephina was the traveling nurse who would come to his little village of Jemez Pueblo. He related that not only was she providing much needed medical care, but she was also a living role model for young native women in particular, demonstrating by her very presence the power of education.
Benny himself was inspired by Waconda and others like her to pursue not only his own education, but to dedicate his early professional career to helping other young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to get a college degree -- especially in areas not as accessible to them, like engineering -- at Stanford University, University of Colorado, and University of New Mexico.
