While it may not be typical for a Canadian student with a history of fishing for Pacific Salmon to attend The University of Georgia to attain their degree in fisheries and aquaculture, Krista Woodward, a native of New Westminster (northern suburb of Vancouver), B.C., and a world-class javelin thrower, is not a typical student.

A few years ago, The University of Georgia Athletics Department offered Krista a scholarship to matriculate in Athens while competing on UGA's highly-rated track and field team. After some serious consideration, Krista determined that her javelin throwing career could achieve greater success at UGA than at home in Canada. And after all, UGA had a well established Marine Science program, and the idea of feeding her passion for fish by studying tropical fisheries was attractive to this cold-water expert.

After her first year as an undergraduate, however, Krista discovered the Marine Science degree required spending an entire year conducting field research, preventing her from participating in athletics for the year. This requirement was too restrictive for the freshman who had just won the 2003 SEC title and placed third at the NCAA championships. However, it did not mean she had to terminate her interest in the science and management of fisheries.

Krista learned about the Fisheries and Aquaculture program at the Warnell School soon after discovering the Marine Science requirements and quickly saw an opportunity to fulfill both her academic and athletic desires.

“I got lucky coming here,” Krista explains. “Not only do I get to be apart of a great athletic program, I also get to learn and experience things I never would have had I stayed north.”

“I really feel that the Warnell School is a great program to be apart of. The classes are small, the teachers know your name and both the students and the teachers will go out of there way to help you if you need anything. With being so far away it is nice to have the southern hospitality,” Krista concluded.

Now in her senior year, Krista has excelled in her academic studies and athletic competition. She has established herself in the Warnell School's professional fisheries and aquaculture program and focused her research on studying the suitability of stream habitat for Coho Salmon in Sinkboot Creek, just outside of Vancouver.

Krista also continues to make her hometown supporters proud by winning the SEC Championships for javelin throwing again in 2005 and 2006, placing 4th (2005) and 3rd (2006) at the NCAA championships, and displaying her maple-leaf adorned flag while placing 2nd in the Junior Pan-American Games, and winning the North American Caribbean Championships.

She remains the Canadian junior record-holder for throwing distance, and held the senior record until two years ago, but she believes she “should have no problem re-gaining the title this year”.

Once her athletic career comes to an end, hopefully after the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China, Krista will have a professional science degree and substantial experience that will make her competitive in the fisheries biologist job market.