SILVER CITY, N.M. – Literacy Link - Leamos has received the Literacy Program of the Year award from the New Mexico Coalition for Literacy, which funds and supports community-based literacy programs throughout the state of New Mexico. Connie Jimenez, a Literacy Link student who passed the GED, was awarded Student of the Year.

"We're thrilled to receive this honor," said Mary Beth Folia, Program Director. "Our tutors and learners work so hard, it's great to be recognized. Our book program and event volunteers, and our Board of Directors, also put in lots of time and effort."

Connie Jimenez, who won Student of the Year, studied with tutor DeAnna Mooney for over a year to pass the difficult algebra section of the GED, despite holding two jobs and caring for a young child. "She was incredibly dedicated," Mooney said.

Literacy Link – Leamos has its office in the Silver City Public Library, and offers free tutoring to Grant County adults who study for exams like the GED and US citizenship. They also offer help with learning English and using computers, and teach small classes in Bayard, Santa Clara, Silver City and at the Grant County Detention Center. The organization's Let's Read program gets new books into the hands of all Grant County elementary school students several times per year.

Literacy Link staff members Folia and Jason Marshall, Tech Manager/Admin Assistant, will travel to Santa Fe to receive the award on September 8, during the Coalition's annual conference.