Emma Dencker

Colorado, USA

Emma has volunteered at the Denver Botanic Gardens since middle school and has a particular interest in water conservation in the western United States. She serves as a Water Challenge Ambassador for EarthEcho International and has hosted a podcast on teen participation in water stewardship. Emma is also involved with plant science and spends her summers working as an intern and research assistant to botanists conducting field research. Emma’s essay on the Colorado River, “The Lifeline of the West,” won a Judge’s Pick award in the 2021 Ocean Awareness Contest.