2008 Conference on Aging award recipients

Five people and a legal organization that make a difference in the lives of New Mexico’s elder residents will receive awards during the 30th annual New Mexico Conference on Aging in Albuquerque.

The awards are presented each year to recognize the unselfish work of people on behalf of senior citizens in the state.

“New Mexico is fortunate to have so many people who help enrich the lives of our treasured elders,” said Aging and Long-Term Services Department Secretary Cindy Padilla. “Recognizing these individuals and organizations each year is an important reminder that volunteerism and personal commitment are both vital to the services we provide and very much appreciated.”

This year’s award recipients are:

Outstanding Senior Citizen Award: Robert Beckett of Deming, a long-time member of the Deming-Luna County Commission on Aging Board and former mayor. “Robert L. Beckett is a true champion for senior citizens and his devotion to senior programs is outstanding,” wrote Barbara Borden in her letter nominating Mr. Beckett. “He initiates and advocates for legislation to benefit senior citizens every year. Mr. Beckett has been a resident of Luna County since 1939. During his service with the Commission on Aging, he has emphatically advocated for senior services in Luna County. His major project was the expansion and remodeling of the senior center, which was later re-named the Robert Beckett Senior Center in his honor.”

Outstanding Professional in the Service of Seniors Award: Cecilia “Ceci” Acosta of Roswell, Director of the New Mexico Senior Olympics for the past 18 years. “Ms. Acosta is well-respected among her peers and throughout New Mexico communities,” Elizabeth Francia and Carmela Martinez wrote in their letter nominating Ms. Acosta. “She is held in high regard by the many whose lives she has positively affected by her successes. This nomination recognizes her dedication, commitment, and tireless efforts in creating the quality programming that the Senior Olympics offers throughout the state of New Mexico.”

K. Rose Wood Memorial Award: Stanley Benally of Gallup, a long-time advocate on behalf of elder Navajos and others. This award is named in honor of K. Rose Wood, who, in the late 1960s, helped establish the first office on aging under the State Welfare Department. The 60-year-old Benally helps with the management and administration of services for elders on the Navajo Nation. “Stanley Benally has applied his training and experiences to advance the standards of living for Navajos, other American Indians, and other people,” Ruth Secatero of the Navajo Area Agency on Aging wrote in her letter nominating Mr. Benally. “He managed the Navajo Department of Behavioral Health and, through his leadership and vision, changed the lives of people on and off the reservation.”

Public Service Award: The Lawyer Referral for the Elderly Program (LREP) of the State Bar of New Mexico. Available to all New Mexicans age 55 and older, their families and caregivers, LREP provides free legal information and advice, brief services, and referrals to private attorneys in all areas of civil law. LREP staff attorneys conduct free workshops and free attorney-client consultations at senior centers statewide. In 2007, LREP handled 14,604 incoming calls—an average of 1,217 per month; 4,744 new client intakes—an average of almost 400 per month; and 8,838 in-house brief services for clients—an average of 737 per month.

Governor’s Recognition for Achievement in Aging Award: Brigido “Bricky” Juarez of Artesia. The 72-year-old Mr. Juarez is the Director of the Artesia Meal Site, which provides meals at senior centers and other sites, home-delivered meals, transportation, and other services to seniors throughout the community of Artesia. He was instrumental in developing adult day care in Artesia, as well as in securing funding for a wellness park and walking track in the community. Mr. Juarez served for 12 years on the board of the Eastern New Mexico Area Aging on Aging until it was incorporated in the Non-Metro Area Agency on Aging, which provides services to elders in 32 of the state’s 33 counties.

Representative Nick Salazar Award: Jenny Martinez of Santa Fe, who served as Director of the Non-Metro Area Agency on Aging. The award was first given to Representative Nick Salazar by the state Agency on Aging at the 24th Conference on Aging in 2002. Since then, Representative Salazar has selected an individual each year to receive the award created in his honor to recognize those who make a significant contribution to enrich the lives of senior citizens of New Mexico. Jenny Martinez retired as the Director of the Non-Metro Area Agency on Aging in February 2008. She began her career in the aging network as a senior van driver in Tucumcari, and went on to run the Tucumcari program. Eventually she relocated to Santa Fe, where her natural leadership skills and her commitment to serving the poorest and most frail elderly led to her becoming Director of the Area Agency on Aging that is administered through the North Central New Mexico Economic Development District (NCNMEDD).

The awards were presented during the four-day Conference on Aging, an annual event of the New Mexico Aging and Long-Term Services Department that featured 73 workshops, 29 roundtable discussions, a health fair, a sports and fitness fair, and the Engage New Mexico Fiesta, which included a Job and Volunteer Fair.