 Zaffirini's work in the education field led to her being named "Laredoan of the year" in 2009 by the "Laredo Morning Times".Zaffirini studied two summers at Laredo Community College (then Laredo Junior College).On December 17, 2007, she was honored by the LCC board of trustees with its inaugural "Beacon Award", a creation from the college's sixtieth anniversary.