Concepción Mendizábal Mendoza

Mendizábal started taking engineering classes at the Escuela Nacional de Ingenieros in the Palacio de Minería in 1921.^[3][2] At first, she audited the classes, but eventually her normal school courses were considered equivalent to the bachelor's degree she required to be fully enrolled.^[3] While she was in school, her father became ill and eventually died in 1926.^[1] Nevertheless, she came back to school and achieved high grades in all her classes.^[1]

She graduated in 1927 and in January 1930, applied to take the professional exam for engineers.^[3] Her thesis was unusual in being illustrated with photographs.^[3] When she passed the exam on February 11, 1930, she became the first woman in Mexico to earn a civil engineering degree.^[1]

Mendizábal went on to work with the Sociedad Científica Antonio Alzate (Antonio Alzate Scientific Society), which her father had helped create.^[1]

She was honored with the Ruth Rivera award in 1974.^[4] Mendizábal died on November 23, 1985.^[1]