Grandma gets honorary degree for aiding New Mexico community

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — An 84-year-old woman has received an honorary degree from Northern New Mexico College for her contributions to the small community north of Española. The degree was awarded Saturday to Socorro Herrera. The Santa Fe New Mexican reports the great grandmother and is known for feeding the elderly, singing at weddings and running Socorro’s Restaurant, a staple of the little town whose customers have included former President Barack Obama and famed actor John Travolta. Herrera was born in the same house in Hernández where she operates the restaurant for the past 28 years. She married at 16, had the first of her four children by the time she was 17 and didn’t graduate from high school back then. Herrera now is on her way to holding a diploma from the Peñasco Independent School District.