Katherine Verrando

Katherine Verrando is a student leader passionate about education advocacy and global learning. She currently serves as the Student Board Member to the Capistrano Unified School District. She’s also the Student Commissioner on the Instructional Quality Commission, an advisory body to the California State Board of Education representing six million students. Throughout high school, Katherine served four years on the Associated Student Body, three as Class President and now as ASB Secretary.

As an education advocate, Katherine spearheaded the primary STEM curriculum for under-resourced students in Belize and Liberia, led an international debate program, contributed to the creation of a civics curriculum, and facilitated intercultural leadership camps for K-12 students from 25 countries. Through these efforts, she has helped raise over $30,000 in grant funding, including as a recipient of the U.S. State Department’s Citizen Diplomacy Action Fund award.

Fueled by a passion for international diplomacy, Katherine has earned merit scholarships to study in Taiwan, India, and Japan over the past several summers. Last summer, she was a delegate to ALA Girls State.

In the fall, Katherine will attend the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, majoring in economics with a concentration in finance.