For tens of thousands of members of the Peace Corps community, Harris Llewellyn Wofford will always be remembered and revered for his iconic work as one of the Peace Corps’ architects and his vigorous lifelong commitment to volunteerism and service above self. His legacy lives on through NPCA’s Harris Wofford Award for Global Leadership.
The Global Citizen Award recognizes an outstanding global leader from a country where Peace Corps Volunteers served, whose life was influenced by the Peace Corps, and whose career contributed significantly to their nation and the world in ways that reflect shared values in human dignity and economic, social, and political development. This highly competitive award is the highest honor NPCA bestows upon a global leader.
NPCA proudly announces the 2025 Wofford Winner, Lucy Aquino of Paraguay. As a renowned environmentalist and the founder of the World Wildlife Foundation (WWF) in Paraguay, Ms. Aquino has achieved incredible results in her efforts against deforestation, including the Zero Deforestation Law. In addition to the Wofford Award, her work has earned multiple other international awards, including recognition from the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
With 18 years of experience, Ms. Aquino has published over 20 works on Paraguay’s biodiversity and led the first biological inventory of the country (1980-1988). We are delighted to announce that Ms. Aquino will speak at NPCA’s Peace Corps Connect Conference this July in Washington, DC!
Donald Clark, the Country Director of Peace Corps Paraguay, recognized Lucy Aquino for her excellent work during WWF’s 11 years in Paraguay.
The Global Citizen Award is particularly fitting for Lucy, whose career began as a student at the National University of Asunción, where she worked alongside Peace Corps Volunteers. Within two years, Lucy became the principal mentor for cohorts of Peace Corps Volunteers from 1983 through the 1990s, when the National Museum project was fully institutionalized. Many of these Peace Corps Volunteers, mentored by Lucy, pursued their careers in science and conservation.
Lucy emerged nationally and globally as a leader in the fight against illegal wildlife trade in Paraguay. This was a complex and truly dangerous endeavor. There were moments when Lucy faced threats and attempts to undermine her efforts. She had to protect herself, her family, and her staff. Yet, despite these challenges, Lucy’s accomplishments in conservation are among the highest in Latin America. She successfully thwarted embedded systems of corruption while enlisting both Paraguayan and international law enforcement agencies to help control wildlife trafficking.
At the same time, Lucy laid the groundwork for the sustainable use of wildlife in Paraguay, positioning the country at the intersection of conservation and sustainable development. It’s hard to imagine anyone else achieving what Lucy has done.
Here is a video Lucy recently helped produce about her work with the Peace Corps in Paraguay.
Please join us at Peace Corps Connect (July 19-20) at American University in Washington, DC, to meet and hear from this inspirational and deserving member of our global family.
WorldView cover featuring Harris Wofford after he passed away in 2019.