LOS LUNAS — In a quiet corner near the entrance of Los Lunas High School, Jessica Baldonado speaks excitedly about working with students, including her work with Lending a Paw, the student-run service group she helped found at LLHS eight years ago.
“I’ve worked with teenagers for 27 years now, and it’s not true that they don’t care. They want to be respected,” Baldonado said. “This is my fulfillment, to see these students grow.”
At the end of 2025, Nusenda Credit Union recognized Baldonado as the recipient of the 2025 Financial Education Innovation Award for her work with Lending a Paw, which has grown into a district-wide initiative tackling issues from student food insecurity to financial illiteracy through innovative, student-led projects…