Katrina Manrique has put a lot of thought — and action — into supporting the emotional well-being of her fellow students. As a leader of the student-run Mental Health Initiative, the senior has organized protests advocating for services and major mental health conferences.

A student of history and English, Manrique also values thoughtful committee work for the change it can bring. She helped draft the recommendations of the Chancellor’s Mental Health Care Task Force and a protocol for caring for the campus community when a student dies.

Somewhat shy when she came to UC Davis from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Manrique said a professor challenged her to use history to create change. “It taught me to question the institutions we’re from and how we can work with them for change,” she said.

Manrique is looking toward graduate studies in public policy and hands-on work with the Filipino community or a non-governmental agency abroad.