The (LAA) was created to recognize those who have achieved excellence in librarianship over an extended (over 20 years) period of service and who have made significant and lasting contributions to REFORMA, as well as to the Latino and the Spanish-speaking communities. Lucia is a 1988 graduate from the USF Masters in Library and Information Science program and was featured as part of the 2021 Alice G. Smith Lecture series. She has recieved multiple Pura Belpré Children’s Literature Honor Medals, and Library Journal's Movers and Shakers award. Congratulations to Lucia on this incredible honor!