Congratulations to Sarah Emerson, the ISSC 2022 Unsung Hero of the Year, representing Manassas City Public Schools Education Foundation! The Inter-Service Club Council of Greater Manassas (ISSC) presents Unsung Hero Awards annually to deserving recipients who work behind the scenes to make a real difference as part of local nonprofits/service organizations.
Sarah, a Senior Information Security Management Analyst with SWIFT, has represented the Manassas company and community partner for many years on the MCPSEF Board of Directors. This year, she moved into an Officer position as Second Vice President and has had a major impact on almost every aspect of our operations. She chairs the Marketing Committee and can always be counted on to pitch in and help whenever needed.
SWIFT is one of our Champion donors, the highest level donating over $10,000 per year. The company, through Sarah’s stewardship, helps fund our two major programs–student scholarships and innovative teacher grant programs. This past year and last, Sarah also encouraged SWIFT to donate additional funds to help our students and staff through the pandemic.
Always eager to have SWIFT professionals interact with students, Sarah arranged for every elementary school in MCPS to experience coding on the “Hour of Code” day this year. Engineers from SWIFT participated virtually with all the classrooms and Sarah herself led several sessions. It was a highlight of the semester, and introduced even our youngest students to the concept of coding.
Sarah served in the US Air Force spouse for 10 years, and then started her career in Cyber Security. She is now a Cyber Security Business Analyst for SWIFT, a leading, international FIN-Tech firm with a major presence in the City of Manassas. When she’s not researching innovative ways to keep her company’s systems and customers’ information secure, she’s partnering with local communities to ensure that the SWIFT organization does their part to provide quality education, infrastructure, and stomp out poverty in those areas we live and work in.
Growing up with a mother who was also an Elementary Teacher for a Title 1 school, Mrs. Emerson saw first-hand the need for community support to ensure every child received the best education possible. It’s this seed that was planted many years ago that drives her to give back to our community schools in hope that she can make a difference in children throughout Manassas and equip them with the knowledge and life skills to make them successful.
Below photos: (Left:)Members of the ISSC present Sarah Emerson with her Award. (Right) Jimmy Conroy, MCPSEF President and Vice President with United Bank; Jinnae Monroe, MCPSEF 1st Vice President and Owner, Professionals by Design; and Sarah Emerson, MCPSEF 2022 Unsung Hero Award Recipient and Cyber Security Business Analyst with SWIFT.
