Krista Voda

The Hall of Honor Committee has asked current Clinton High School students to interview the 2019 living inductees and write a press release to share with you.  The 2019 Induction ceremony is Friday, April 12 and is open to the public.  Reservations may be made to Deb Deters, ddeters@clintonia.org.

Clinton High Professional Career Accomplishments Inductee into the Academic Hall of Honor

By Riley Kramer and Prushia Golden

Krista Voda is one of the first nominees to be inducted into the Clinton High School Hall of Honors. This Hall serves to commemorate many Clinton High alumni with notable achievements in character and in their field. Currently, Voda works as a sportscaster, most notably for NASCAR, but she has hosted many other television programs throughout her career. As a 1992 graduate of CHS, she reminisced fondly about her time there, and how her participation in academic life helped contribute to her character today. She believes that CHS “prepared [her] for life as a professional,” and her time there allowed her “to establish a foundation” for herself. But the path she is on now is not necessarily one that she had expected. Her life experiences have afforded her many wonderful moments of inspiration as well as challenges. Upon her induction into the CHS Hall of Honor, Voda took the opportunity to reflect and expound upon her life. Her comments make it clear why she was chosen to receive such an honor. Ms. Voda serves as a mentor to students at CHS, and students everywhere, who strive for greatness and who never give up the pursuit of their dreams.

Even before Voda’s time at Clinton High, she partook in activities revolving around sports. “I always enjoyed sports,” she stated. She was involved in volleyball and track during middle school. Voda was also a gymnast for the majority of her childhood years.  She spent “a large part” of her childhood competing in various gymnastic meets. The time and effort put into succeeding at those meet “helped form [her] work ethic at a young age.” She carried this success into her high school career, indirectly taking courses that would later help prepare her for her future in broadcasting. Her profession was not always so clear to her. “I wanted to be a sports medicine doctor,” she said. However, she quickly realized that this path “wasn’t a passion” for her. She had “always felt comfortable speaking in front of crowds.” She also furthered her literary skills, realizing “if it was comfort I found in speaking, it was fulfillment I found in writing.” The goals she set then were to “reach further… [to] grow.” Now, she focuses on giving her daughter the same opportunity.

In her pursuit for fulfillment and growth, Voda has looked to many role models. She is very open about those who have inspired her, and those who have been mentors to her in her career. She mentioned the names of sportscasters whom she has worked alongside, including Steve Byrnes and Bob Costas. These two individuals, in particular, taught her “various skills” that she still uses today. She believes the impact of their actions on her “aren’t as much skills, as they are life lessons.”

During her time in Clinton, at CHS, and in the pursuit of her passion, Voda has learned many life lessons. She emphasized one piece of advice: “Don’t be afraid to fail.” In fact, she urges all who read this to “relish the experience.” Not only have failures taught her more than her successes, but also “the lessons learned from the missteps will lead you to greater climbs.”  Voda reflects her 1992 class motto: “Our greatest glory is not in never falling but in rising every time we fall.”