Peterson named Optimists Youth of the Month for March

COLFAX HIGH SCHOOL student Ella Peterson has been named the Menomonie Optimist Club’s Outstanding Youth of the Month for March. —photo submitted

The youth of Dunn County are the focus of the Menomonie Optimist Club, and in March they named Ella Peterson of Colfax High School, as an outstanding Youth of the Month. Optimists have been honoring such talented youth for over 30 years.

Ella Peterson is a senior at Colfax High School, where she has taken extensive Advanced Placement and college level coursework. Ella will graduate as one of the top five students in her class. She’s a member of the National Honor Society, the Student Council, has served as captain of the softball team, and also captain of her favorite athletic effort as a member of the Bloomer Shark Swim Club. For several years Ella has worked at the Colfax Animal Hospital, and also volunteers at the Colfax Public Library, where her special love is children’s programs. Ella plans to attend UW-River Falls after graduation, majoring in pre-veterinary medicine. Her parents are Craig and Krissy Peterson.

Menomonie Optimists also serve youth through the Dictionary Project, which provides a dictionary to every third grader in Dunn County; through sponsoring the Menomin Meander, a family-friendly August bike ride around Lake Menomin; and in partnership with the Wisconsin DNR in projects at Hoffman Hills State Recreation Area.