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Abigail Verino

505

Bold Points

1x

Finalist

1x

Winner

Bio

Hi there! My name is Abigail (Abby) Verino and I am a first generation Filipina-American student currently in my third year at the University of California, Berkeley, obtaining two Bachelor of Arts degrees in Ethnic Studies & Legal Studies. In my experience of service through being an Intern under the Multiplying Good Organization, Civic Engagement Intern at Asian Law Alliance, AAMPLIFY Social Justice Leadership Program Lead Intern, and serving as a Student Trustee/Board Member to my school district, I have discovered firsthand how the power of policy and public service intersect to create better opportunities for students. Being born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area (Ohlone Land), I had the privilege to be surrounded by immense diversity and many opportunities to learn about the communities around me. Now serving as an ASUC Senator at UC Berkeley, I have a passion for sexual violence prevention education, studying and giving back to the Pilipinx and Southeast Asian community to increase the dialogue of social justice, and work that is rooted in serving the community, by the community. In all spaces I occupy, I lead with love and intentionality for the communities I serve. I am open to work and to any internship opportunities! Feel free to contact me: abigailverino[at]berkeley.edu 💌

Education

University of California-Berkeley

Bachelor's degree program
2022 - 2026
  • Majors:
    • Legal Professions and Studies, Other
    • Ethnic Studies

Miscellaneous

  • Desired degree level:

    Doctoral degree program (PhD, MD, JD, etc.)

  • Graduate schools of interest:

  • Transfer schools of interest:

  • Majors of interest:

  • Not planning to go to medical school
  • Career

    • Dream career field:

      Law Practice

    • Dream career goals:

    • Front Desk Receptionist & Student Scanner

      Cypress Lawn Cemetery & Funeral Home
      2020 – 20244 years

    Sports

    Tennis

    Varsity
    2018 – 20213 years

    Research

    • Ethnic Studies

      University of California, Berkeley Department of Ethnic Studies — Undergraduate Student Researcher
      2024 – Present

    Public services

    • Public Service (Politics)

      Asian Law Alliance — Civic Engagement Intern
      2024 – Present
    Scholarship Institute’s Annual Women’s Leadership Scholarship
    As a first generation Filipina American born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, I am incredibly lucky to have been exposed to Ethnic Studies and social justice work that is rooted in the community. Through volunteering as a translator for elderly manongs and manangs as they share their stories in Tagalog at Bayanihan Equity Center in San Francisco, and showing younger Filipino American students that higher education is attainable by being a mentor at the Galing Bata after school program, the stories these younger and elderly Filipinos shared the same sentiments and dreams that my parents had, to give back to our family and back to our community. I learned that I could make a difference through volunteerism and advocacy, growing my passion for leadership through public service. Through public service I recognized that I could intersect service to my identity. Being able to pay homage to the servant leaders who came before me in my work, such as Larry Itliong, has allowed me to be part of something greater than myself. Itliong, a Filipino American labor movement leader in the Delano grape strikes, proved that making noise and centering leadership around the people ensures that community remains in the hands of the community. Inspired by the movements towards intergenerational healing and solidarity work, my non profit work and working in public service spaces have inspired me to bring change through public service. The government structure was not made for individuals who look like me, and have even worked to try and remove our existence from history books and from taking space; however, I find that it is my responsibility to take space in public service and be able to use the public service for good, especially for my community. My commitment to leadership and passion for Ethnic Studies ignited in 2020 when I assumed the role of Student Trustee for the South San Francisco Unified School District, a position I held for two consecutive years. During my tenure, I actively participated in policy decisions with a focus on community impact. I provided valuable input on initiatives addressing critical issues like policing, sexual violence, and harassment reform, and worked towards creating enhanced opportunities for students of color to access higher education. Inspired by this experience, I sought to extend my service at the University of California, Berkeley, where I joined the Associated Students. Initially serving as an intern in the Office of the President within the Academic and Professional Opportunities Department, I continued on to serve as External Chief of Staff to ASUC Senator Lanah Duque, the Pilipinx Community-endorsed senator. Inspired by the leaders around me, I am now an ASUC Senator-Elect at UC Berkeley, representing the Pilipinx and Southeast Asian community for the 2024-2025 academic year. I ran a campaign for over 4 months with a team of 30 student leaders, and secured the #3 seat out of #37 candidates. With these leadership experiences, I hope to continue to lift as I climb and continue to share all that I have learned to the next generation of leaders. My greatest form of advocacy is through education, as I have been molded by the stories of my ancestors, and leaders who came before me. I aim to be the first in my family to obtain a Bachelor’s degree, hoping to exemplify Filipina excellence through leading with love in all spaces I occupy.
    Public Service Scholarship
    As a first generation Filipina American born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, I am incredibly lucky to have been exposed to Ethnic Studies and social justice work that is rooted in the community. Through volunteering as a translator for elderly manongs and manangs as they share their stories in Tagalog at Bayanihan Equity Center in San Francisco, and showing younger Filipino American students that higher education is attainable by being a mentor at the Galing Bata after school program, the stories these younger and elderly Filipinos shared the same sentiments and dreams that my parents had, to give back to our family and back to our community. I learned that I could make a difference through volunteerism and advocacy, growing my passion for public service. Through public service I recognized that I could intersect service to my identity. Being able to pay homage to the servant leaders who came before me in my work, such as Larry Itliong, has allowed me to be part of something greater than myself. Itliong, a Filipino American labor movement leader in the Delano grape strikes, proved that making noise and centering leadership around the people ensures that community remains in the hands of the community. Inspired by the movements towards intergenerational healing and solidarity work, my non profit work and working in public service spaces have inspired me to bring change through public service. The government structure was not made for individuals who look like me, and have even worked to try and remove our existence from history books and from taking space; however, I find that it is my responsibility to take space in public service and be able to use the public service for good, especially for my community. My commitment to public service and passion for Ethnic Studies ignited in 2020 when I assumed the role of Student Trustee for the South San Francisco Unified School District, a position I held for two consecutive years. During my tenure, I actively participated in policy decisions with a focus on community impact. I provided valuable input on initiatives addressing critical issues like policing, sexual violence, and harassment reform, and worked towards creating enhanced opportunities for students of color to access higher education. Inspired by this experience, I sought to extend my service at the University of California, Berkeley, where I joined the Associated Students. Initially serving as an intern in the Office of the President within the Academic and Professional Opportunities Department, I continued on to serve as External Chief of Staff to ASUC Senator Lanah Duque, the Pilipinx Community-endorsed senator. Inspired by the leaders around me, I am now an ASUC Senator-Elect at UC Berkeley, representing the Pilipinx and Southeast Asian community for the 2024-2025 academic year. I ran a campaign for over 4 months with a team of 30 student leaders, and secured the #3 seat out of #37 candidates. My education is incredibly invaluable, as I would be the first in my family to graduate with a Bachelor’s degree. With this responsibility to not only persevere to fulfill my parents dreams, but also achieve my own, I hope to continue to lift as I climb and continue to share all that I have learned to the next generation of leaders. My greatest form of advocacy is through education, as I have been molded by the stories of my ancestors, and leaders who came before me. With this, I am currently serving as Intern under the first Filipina Mayor of Daly City, Juslyn Manalo, and Civic Engagement Intern at Asian Law Alliance.
    Filipino-American Scholarship
    Winner
    ‘Daly City is basically Manilatown’- words that my white classmates said in the school hallways. I looked down in shame, but as I stared out the window and saw Carl the fog rolling in, I remembered the anecdote my parents shared with me that ‘the fog is all the Filipinos cooking rice’. I no longer felt shame in being surrounded by a community that looked like me. As a first generation Filipina American born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, I am incredibly lucky to have been exposed to Ethnic Studies and social justice work that is rooted in the community. Through volunteering as a translator for elderly manongs and manangs as they share their stories in Tagalog at Bayanihan Equity Center in San Francisco, and showing younger Filipino American students that higher education is attainable by being a mentor at the Galing Bata after school program, the stories these younger and elderly Filipinos shared the same sentiments and dreams that my parents had, to give back to our family, back to our kapwa, and back to our community; all upon the driving purpose of love. Filipinos are resilient, and I choose to be resilient by leading with love. Being able to pay homage to the servant leaders who came before me in my work, such as Larry Itliong, has allowed me to be part of something greater than myself. Itliong, a Filipino American labor movement leader in the Delano grape strikes, proved that making noise and centering leadership around the people ensures that community remains in the hands of the community. Inspired by the movements towards intergenerational healing and solidarity work, my non profit work and working in public service spaces have inspired me to bring change through the law. The government structure was not made for individuals who look like me, and have even worked to try and remove our existence from history books and from taking space; however, I find that it is my responsibility to take space in the law and be able to use the law for good, especially for my community. In any capacity, I lead with love; because of my love for my family, my love for Ethnic Studies, my love for my community, and my love for my Filipino identity.