Angela Wilson
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (July 12/02) - "I don't know if it's a morbid fascination or what," Ashley Woodward says with a smile. "I don't know if it freaks (my parents) out or not, but they're happy I'm doing what I enjoy ... My dad makes dead people jokes a lot."

Ashley Woodward: Her favourite TV program is Secrets of Forensic Science. - Angela Wilson/NNSL photo

Woodward, 18, is referring to her fascination for forensic science. In fact, Woodward enjoys the field so much, she plans to make a career out of it. This September, Woodward will be studying forensic science at the University of Toronto, with some financial aid from the Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation.

Woodward, who was captain of St. Patrick high school's volleyball team this past year, received one of 600 local awards to be handed out across Canada this year. She will receive $4,000 to go towards her studies.

So why go so far as Ontario to study? Woodward says her choices were limited. "It's the only school in Canada that has the program," she says.

Woodward says her interest in forensics isn't something that's come up recently.

"I've been interested in it for a while," she says. "I watch all the shows."

Her favourite TV program is Secrets of Forensic Science.

Woodward says she was only "kinda" surprised she received the award. That's because before she actually won, she was contacted for an interview over the phone. She says she was told at that point she was one of three people being interviewed for two awards. The Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation received more than 7,000 applications from across Canada. Following a three-month selection process, awards were distributed at national, provincial-territorial and local levels.

Still, says Woodward, that didn't take away the glow of actually winning.

"I got a phone call at school one day," she says of how she was notified. "I was very excited."

While at school this past year, Woodward was involved in volunteer work. She was the Grade 12 representative for Students Against Drunk Driving and also assisted in coaching the Yellowknife Special Olympics swim team.

She also keeps a full summer schedule. During the week, she works for the Department of Health and Social Services, mostly doing secretarial work. On weekends, she heads to the beach as a lifeguard. "And I've got the suntan to prove it!" she says.

Woodward moved to Yellowknife from Saskatoon when she was 10. She says she enjoys the security of Yellowknife.

"I kinda like that it's small enough not to be big city scary," she says.

While Woodward says she's not yet sure whether or not she will pursue a PhD after completing her BA, she does have a career goal in mind.

"I hope to be a forensic engineer at the end of it all," she says, flashing another smile.