Carrying the SPS Compass

When Sofia Vivado ’11 wanted to learn about permaculture, she was willing to go to the ends of the earth to satisfy her curiosity. Her gap-year program at a remote ranch in the Patagonia region of Argentina pushed her comfort level at times, but it also exposed her to a different way of living in community. “It was an amazing, out-of-this world experience,” she says.

 

Vivado’s Argentinian adventure is just one example of how dedicated she is to pursuing her interests when she believes in the mission of a program or place. Another? Earlier this year, she returned to St. Paul’s as an alumni giving and relations officer in the Advancement Office.

 

Starting with her first gift to The SPS Fund as a Sixth Former, Vivado has made a point of supporting students who came to the School after her. Now, she works with alumni in the forms of 2007 to 2020 to help them stay connected to each other and the School as well as to share her belief in the importance of supporting today’s students through annual giving.

 

“I give back to SPS so that I can impact students,” Vivado says. “My gifts aren’t large, but they matter and make a difference in the paths students take. I know I’m making an impact I can feel proud of.”

 

Vivado’s own path started in Texas; her family moved to her mother’s home state of New Hampshire when she was a kindergartner. Vivado first visited SPS as a middle schooler auditioning for summer ballet opportunities. Realizing she could combine great academics with intensive ballet study, she applied.

 

“There was a sense of camaraderie at SPS that appealed, too, and I liked the idea of living with friends,” Vivado says. Academically, she gravitated to the humanities and arts. In college, as an anthro- pology major and art history minor, she studied in Chile and, through internships in art galleries and museums, started laying the groundwork for her career in nonprofits and fundraising.

 

A decade after graduating from SPS, Vivado is building on that foundation with her signature dedication and curiosity.

 

“What most appeals to me about the School’s mission is that you can carry it with you as a compass throughout your life,” she says. “You can set the intention of continuing to build a purposeful life in service to the greater good every day. It’s been special to have my relationship with SPS expand beyond my personal experience — I enjoy hearing how experiences at the School have influenced alumni’s lives. It’s inspiring and motivating.”