St. Agnes Academy
Written by Tess Pacetti ‘26
The St. Agnes Academy
alumni community is an important part of the veritas tradition. The values and lessons that students learn at St. Agnes will follow them to their college journeys and beyond. The friends that they will make will encourage them to develop into an academy woman guided by
Gospel values.
With alumnae reunions, luncheons, and constant networking opportunities, many former students can still connect with their old classmates. This connection is important in cultivating the unique and supportive St. Agnes community.
Each St. Agnes student is called to follow their own path beyond high school, and each career decision is equally important. From doctors and lawyers to artists and scientists, St. Agnes encourages an environment of curiosity and learning. Learn more about the career path of alumni at St. Agnes.
Career Path of Alumni of St. Agnes Academy
Some notable St. Agnes alumni have been awarded the
Veritas and SAYPO awards, which award former students who have excelled academically, professionally, and as a leader in their career paths while projecting the values taught at St. Agnes. Let’s review some of our recent winners.
Megan Coody Hotze: 2024 Veritas Award Winner
In 2024, Megan Hotze was awarded the Veritas award because of her pivotal role in the founding of
Impact100, an initiative that compels women to volunteer in their communities.
She raises money for nonprofits while also juggling being a mother to three and a wife. She was highlighted in the Houston Business Journal and helped inspire other students at the most recent St. Agnes Career Day.
Joy Sewing: 2023 Veritas Award Winner
Joy Sewing is an important
Houston Chronicle columnist and was the first Black columnist in the history of the paper. Joy founded a non-profit called Year of Joy to bring memorable experiences from underprivileged communities and children in the greater Houston Area.
Joy was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for her columns and later received the Houston Humanitarian Award. She also became a foster and then an adoptive mother to two children and advocated for foster children and brought attention to the foster care system in Houston.
Past Veritas Award Winners
2022: Jessica Spikerman Graham ‘98
2019: Alyssa parish Bublewicz ‘97
2016: Katie Upton Daily ‘96
2012: Sr. Carol Mayes O.P. ‘56
2010: Mary Ann Chambers ‘57
2008: Kathy Kokas ‘73
Natalie Harms: 2024 SAYPO Award Winner
Natalie Harms is a business journalist working as an editor at
InnovationMap, which covers Houston news. Natalie was awarded the Small Business Media Advocate Award, and she continues to support small businesses and entrepreneurs.
Through her positive representation, she was awarded the “Defender of Potential” title and continued her constant volunteering efforts in the community.
Regina Vatterott: 2023 SAYPO Award Winner
Regina Vatterott is a founder of
EllieGrid, which helps regulate medication for patients. When she was attending a Forbes 30 under 30 conference, she had a life-threatening stroke that led to the paralysis of the right side of her body.
Through much rehab and healthcare, Regina was able to make a full recovery. She now advocates for neurology centers at Houston Methodist Hospital. Regina was named one of the U.S.’s top 40 Chief Operating Officers in the Personal Health Space for her leadership and innovation in her company.
Past SAYPO Award Winners
2019: Annie Rupani Farino ‘07
2018: Ammie Hudson Blahuta ‘98
2017: Madeline Burns ‘09
2016: Sara Brandino Elias ‘99
2015: Andres Ivey Phillips ‘04
Importance of Career Services in the Workplace
All these former St. Agnes students went through real-world struggles and hardships throughout their careers, but they followed the values that were taught to them to achieve their fullest potential.
Each student-turned-professional maintained true morals and gratitude while reflecting on the importance of community from their time at St. Agnes. Their careers and decisions will continue to inspire other young students and fill them with hope about their own future.
By using social media platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram, St. Agnes alumni stay more connected with their former classmates than ever before. To learn more about the career path of alumni at St. Agnes and explore more inspiring stories, visit
our Alumnae Page.