Congratulations to our 2022 St. Agnes Young Professionals Organization (SAYPO) Award winners, the VTV Lockdown Crew: BARBARA FRIEND '07, EMMA MORRIS '12, and CHARLOTTE FRIEND '13
The St. Agnes Academy Alumnae board awards the SAYPO Award annually, which recognizes an individual (or individuals) pursuing excellence in their career and representing St. Agnes well in the community. This year, they honor three women who lifted our spirits during a very dark time.
In March of 2020, as restaurants were closing and events were being canceled due to the pandemic, Emma Morris '12 reached out to Barbara Friend '07 via Twitter. At this time, they only knew each other tangentially. Emma said, "I was thinking about bringing back the VTV morning announcements in some capacity… just thought it could be a fun daily break from all this corona chaos." During the first 36 hours of sheltering in place, Emma had been contemplating how to get through it and thought, "Should I stream live on Facebook daily? Wow, no one wants to watch a video of me every day." Then she thought, "Ha, remember when they HAD to in high school?" Barbara was in. They asked Barbara's sister, Charlotte Friend '13, to join them, and "VTV Lockdown" blossomed into an almost-daily live Facebook show with guests from all over the St. Agnes community.
We were entertained with morning pledges and prayers, costumes from their SAA days, Tiger Girls dance lessons, bingo, and a vote for an alumna prom queen! They showcased the many gifts, stories, and experiences of alumnae, faculty, staff, and current students. They even interviewed Sr. Jane, who joined to promote Giving Day and reflect on her incredible SAA legacy.
This daily dose of grown-up morning announcements, which became weekly as the pandemic went on, was a spirit-lifting bright spot for many in the St. Agnes community. Emma, Barbara, and Charlotte's talents and efforts brought us together and showed that the spirit of St. Agnes is alive and well. They brought joy to all during some difficult times. See past episodes of VTV Lockdown at
www.facebook.com/vtvlockdown.
Barbara is a television writer and producer in Los Angeles. She helped institute our first Zoom Career Day panel this year.
Emma is a North America Talent Acquisition Manager at Silicon Labs in Austin.
Charlotte is an End of Life Doula, Grief Guide, and Patient Advocate in Houston, under the company name “Friend ‘Till the End.”
All are consistent supporters of the Academy Fund and SAA Giving Day – Fired up.
BARBARA FRIEND '07, EMMA MORRIS '12, and CHARLOTTE FRIEND '13 are shining examples of the talent and tenacity of Academy women! Please join us at St. Agnes Reunion on October 1 as Deborah Whalen, Interim Head of School, Carleen Raymond ’00, Principal, Tess Gee ’13, Alumnae Board SAYPO Chair, and Mary Margaret Pizzitola '15, Alumnae Board SAYPO Vice-Chair present the SAYPO Award.