Emily Okerlund served as an advisor for multiple student organizations at Bonneville High School, according to undated school documents. Her involvement included roles with Educators Rising, a national Career and Technical Education program designed to inspire students to pursue careers in education, training, coaching, and mentoring. She was also listed as an advisor for the FBLA, an organization that holds monthly social activities and competes at regional, state, and national levels in subjects ranging from business and computer science to public speaking and video production. Additionally, Okerlund was identified as an advisor for Latinos in Action, a program that aims to empower Latino youth to lead and strengthen their communities through career and college readiness.
Okerlund's leadership was a factor in the success of the Bonneville High School DECA chapter. According to a Bonneville High School article published on January 20, 2026, Okerlund and Ralph Anderson were described as veteran teachers and advisors whose leadership, dedication, and passion for students contributed to the chapter's achievements. At the time of that publication, the DECA chapter had earned recognition as a Thrive Level Chapter from DECA Inc., which represents the highest honor the organization awards. This status was achieved by only 16% of the approximately 4,400 chapters nationwide. Furthermore, the Bonneville chapter was one of only two schools in the district to earn the Thrive Membership Level Chapter recognition, a distinction held by only 7.5% of chapters across the country. In the state of Utah, only six schools achieved this specific honor.
Beyond her work with DECA, Okerlund was listed in an undated school directory as a staff member at Bonneville High School. The school, which serves the local community, includes various extracurricular opportunities for students. These include the Academic Olympiad, where teams compete in subjects like social studies, English, science, or math, and the Model UN, which provides an authentic simulation of the UN General Assembly or UN Security Council to introduce students to diplomacy and negotiation. The school also hosts the National Honor Society, a program that recognizes achievement in scholarship, leadership, and service, and the Student Government, which holds elections in the spring.
Other organizations at the school include the Art Club, the Debate team, and Drama, an extracurricular club that includes all cast members from theatrical productions and technical theatre students. For students interested in agriculture, the FFA provides student leadership opportunities. The school also offers various 'crews,' such as the Asian American crew, which focuses on cultural activities and service projects, and Bonneville Buddies, which partners students with and without disabilities to develop friendships. The school's staff includes a variety of specialists, such as counselors, mental health therapists, and special education paraprofessionals, all working to support the student body.
What this means for Washington Terrace
Emily Okerlund's work with student organizations like DECA and Educators Rising provided significant opportunities for students to achieve high-level recognition. Her role as a veteran advisor helped the Bonneville High School DECA chapter reach the top tier of national achievement as of January 20, 2026, setting a standard for excellence in student leadership and career readiness within the local educational community.
