Emily Peterson

Emily Peterson is a junior at Ralston Valley High School in Arvada, Colorado, where she balances academics, competitive athletics, and community involvement. She plays competitive soccer at both club and high school levels, developing leadership skills and teamwork.

Emily is interested in medicine and explores her interests through hands-on experiences. She volunteers at Children’s Hospital Colorado as a Creative Play and Sibling Support Volunteer, supporting siblings of pediatric patients through guided play during medical visits. She is also the founder of Alyssa’s Giving Garden, started in honor of her sister, Alyssa Peterson, a youth-led initiative that has donated over 150 pounds of fresh produce to a local food bank.

She was selected to attend Boston University’s Academic Immersion Program in Introduction to Medicine.

Emily serves as a lead student advocate for Alyssa’s Youth Concussion and Mental Health Protection Act (Alyssa’s Act, SB 26-060) and has testified at the Colorado State Capitol. Her perspective has been featured in a guest commentary in the Denver Post.

She is a student representative for the Jefferson County Indigenous Student Council and a descendant of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa. She hopes to continue exploring opportunities in healthcare and making a meaningful impact in her community.