Alumnae

Veritas & SAYPO Awards

Alumna Veritas Award

The St. Agnes Academy Alumnae Veritas Award and is awarded each year to an alumna that exhibits dedication to the St. Agnes community, and the community as a whole; as well compassion for humanity and achievements academically, professionally, and/or in leadership roles. It was established in 2004 and since then, the St. Agnes Academy Alumnae Board and St. Agnes Young Professionals Organization Board honors an alumna with the Veritas Award.

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2022 Veritas Award Winner

Congratulations to our 2022 VERITAS AWARD winner JESSICA SPIKERMAN GRAHAM '98!
The St. Agnes Academy Alumnae board awards the Veritas Award each year to an alumna that exhibits dedication to the St. Agnes community and the community as a whole, as well as compassion for humanity and achievements academically, and professionally, and/or in leadership roles.
Jessica was nominated for her co-founding of a new chapter of the women’s collective giving group, Impact100 Houston, in 2019. Impact100 Houston unites women to make a significant difference in their community. The concept is that at least 100 women pledge a donation of $1,000, and at the end of the year they vote to determine where those funds will be donated based on grant applications. Currently, with well over 200 members, the group will award two $100,000 grants and three grants of $17,333 in November. There are currently over 200 members and this year they will award two &100,000 grants. impact100houston.org

Prior to founding Impact100 Houston, Jessica served as the Children’s Literacy Initiative’s national director of development. Her fundraising career began in 2003 in New York City at St. Mary’s Child and Family Services in and followed that as the director of philanthropy marketing at Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. Jessica is a consistent supporter of the Academy Fund and SAA Giving Day – Fired up, as well as a Career Day speaker.

Please join us at St. Agnes Reunion on October 1 as Deborah Whalen, Interim Head of School; Carleen Raymond ’00, Principal, Lisa Renaud Staples ’90, Alumnae Board Chair and Alicia Sanchez Jimenez '88, Alumnae Board Vice-Chair present the Veritas Award to JESSICA SPIKERMAN GRAHAM '98!
#veritasboss #stagnesacademy #stagnesacademyalumnae #veritasaward
Veritas Award Past Recipients

2020 & 2021 –#Veritasheroes & Class of 1975
2019 – Alyssa Parrish Bublewicz '97
2018 – Lauri Schneidau Ruiz '77
2017 – Shannon Beirne Wiesedeppe ’90
2016 – Katie Upton Daily ’96
2015 - Diane Knebel Watler ’72
2014 – Conception Diaz-Arrastia Green ’78
2013 – Carolyn Carbajal McCairns ’57
2012 - Sr. Carol Mayes, O.P. '56
2011 - Charla Ward Trader '64
2010 - Mary Ann Chambers '57
2009 - Debbie Sieck '87
2008 - Kathy Kokas '73
2007 - Janet Kingham Greenwood '57
2006 - Sister Therese Warden, O.P. '51
2005 - Eileen Antill '51
2004 - Calista Schneidau Herbert '69

SAYPO Award

The SAYPO (St. Agnes Young Professionals Organization) Award recognizes an individual who is pursuing excellence in her career and is an outstanding representative of St. Agnes in the community. It was established in 2015 and is voted on annually by the SAYPO Board.

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2022 St. Agnes Young Professionals Organization (SAYPO) Award Winner

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.
SAYPO Award Past Recipients

2020 & 2021 – #Veritasheroes & Class of 1975
2019 – Annie Rupani Farino '07
2018 – Ammie Hudson Blahuta '98
2017- Madeline Burns ’09
2016 – Sara Brandino Elias ’99
2015 (Inaugural) - Andrea Ivey Phillips ’04