
YICEN LONG
Future of Business,
Youth Leader
Yicen Long, or Catherine, is a student leader at San Mateo High School driven by a passion for law, economics, and inclusive innovation. After moving from China to the U.S., she experienced firsthand the challenges of navigating legal and cultural systems as a newcomer—an experience that inspired her to launch a youth legal awareness project aimed at making rights education more accessible to teens.
At school, Catherine serves as Community Service Commissioner in ASB and treasurer of Sending Sunshine Club, where she organizes campus-wide service initiatives and fundraisers with local businesses. She’s currently developing an educational board game and workshops that help young people understand their rights in real-life scenarios—from online scams to police encounters.
Catherine made the most of her time in school by taking the maximum number of honors and AP courses allowed by the school, as well as participating in pre-college programs such as USC’s Building Sustainable Businesses, where she explored the intersection of business and social impact. Beyond academics, she is an accomplished classical pianist and varsity golf player. She is also the leader of Utopix Youth Magazine’s outreach team, helping bridge youth voices with broader advocacy campaigns.
Catherine believes that equitable systems must start with informed communities. Through every initiative, she hopes to create tools that make law, policy, and business more accessible, and she is aspiring to leave a meaningful impact in relevant areas in the future.