Kathia attended Cypress Creek High School and ranked 5/829 with a 5.232 GPA on a 6.0 scale.  As an International Baccalaureate student, she participated in many extracurriculars such as the National Honor Society, Amnesty International, Science Olympiad, Eco Club, and Model United Nations. Outside of school, Kathia volunteered with United Against Poverty and the Second Harvest Food Bank as food recovery is significant to Kathia.

In her first year at Yale University, Kathia plans to major in chemical engineering to blend her passions for chemistry and environmentalism to work towards a more sustainable future. She is a member of Ballet Folklorico and volunteers at HAVEN Free Clinic and Yale Community Kitchen. She is the undergraduate secretary of Yale’s chapter of the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science.

Kathia feels leadership begins when people find their passion and ultimately become leaders out of the desire to see that passion flourish. “People can lead many organizations or causes, but their leadership will shine the most for the ones they are most motivated.”