Olympic Gymnast Tasha Schwikert-Warren wraps up semester at UO School of Law

Tasha Schwiket-Warren is no stranger to hard work and dedication. After earning an Olympic bronze medal in Sydney, Australia, in 2000, she continued to compete in women's gymnastics until 2008.

Her list of accomplishments includes a World Gymnastics Championships team gold medal, and the title of 2001 and 2002 U.S. senior national all-around champion. Also, while studying sociology at UCLA, Schwikert-Warren claimed both the 2005 and 2008 NCAA all-around national champion titles.

Schwikert-Warren is now working on her second year of law school at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas – most recently, as a visiting student at the University of Oregon.

Prior to law school, Schwikert-Warren worked at a sports agency in Los Angeles in the Women's Olympic Sports Division as a coordinator and agent. Her time there eventually inspired her to go to law school.

"The law fascinates me. I enjoy how it helps to right the wrongs," said Schwikert-Warren. "Law school challenges me just as training for the Olympics challenged me."

As a Las Vegas native, Schwikert-Warren pursued her first year of law at UNLV before spending a semester during her second year at the UO, where she was drawn to the School of Law's Environmental and Natural Resources Law program.

"I decided to visit at the University of Oregon because I am very interested in environmental and natural resources law and Oregon Law just so happens to have one of the best programs in the country," said Schwikert-Warren.

As a second-year student, Schwikert-Warren is unsure what area of law she would ultimately like to practice, but her top six include intellectual property law, environmental law, corporate law, health law, sports and entertainment law, and gaming law.

"It seems too early for me to make post-law school plans. I believe life has a crazy way of working itself out," Schwikert-Warren said. "Life has already given me opportunities of which I would have never dreamed. But ultimately, I want to pursue a legal practice in an area of law that I am passionate about."

Most recently, Schwikert-Warren was announced as one of two recipients of a $75,000 scholarship from the Las Vegas Business Academy, a nonprofit organization.

- from the UO School of Law