Erin Nicole Peterson

Erin Peterson, 18, of Chantilly, Va., was a freshman majoring in international studies.

She was a member of Phi Sigma Pi - Alpha Rho Chapter, Alpha Eta initiate class.

Peterson was a Westfield High School classmate of victim Reema Samaha and the gunman, Cho Seung-Hui. Fairfax County Public Schools officials say Peterson and Samaha both graduated from Westfield in 2006.

The 6-foot-1 Peterson played center for the school's girls basketball team, helping lead it to a district championship in her sophomore year.

High school teammate Anna Richter said Peterson could do a layup on anyone and recalled that Peterson's parents attended nearly every game and were among the most enthusiastic fans.

Pat Deegan, Peterson's high school coach, said Peterson was a good leader.

Peterson's godfather, Williams Lloyd, said she and her dad were inseparable -- except when it game to their pro-football allegiances. "She was a Redskin," he says. "He was a Cowboy."