Beyond the Pole Vault: How a Jabara Scholar is Making a Difference in Shocker Nation
Sophomore Abby Rexford spends her days chasing heights—sprinting down a runway, planting her pole and trusting herself to rise. But at Wichita State, her influence reaches far beyond the pole vault.
As a Jabara Scholar, Division I student‑athlete and campus leader, Rexford strives not just to succeed, she works to strengthen Shocker Nation and build pathways for mentorship across Kansas. “My purpose goes beyond the height I jump,” Rexford says. “It honestly goes beyond the grades I get.”
Born in China, she was adopted as a baby and raised in a close-knit family. Rexford believes her story is proof that beginnings don’t dictate outcomes—and that opportunity carries a responsibility to give back. “Where your story starts does not determine where your story goes,” she says.
Rexford credits her parents and mentors with grounding her in gratitude and purpose, values that continue to guide her today. “The people that have raised me—my mentors and specifically my parents—have really inspired gratitude,” she reflects.
That mindset found momentum at Wichita State through the Jabara Scholarship, one of the university’s premier awards for future entrepreneurs. The scholarship provides $32,700 over four years for students majoring in entrepreneurship. Rexford is majoring in entrepreneurship with an emphasis in real estate and minoring in American Sign Language.
“Financially, Jabara was the second half of full tuition,” Rexford says. “Being able to go to school for free and graduate debt‑free has changed the stress around school.” As a student‑athlete training roughly 20 hours a week, that scholarship support created something invaluable: time to invest in others. “Being a student‑athlete is a full‑time job,” she says. “I have the privilege of not having to get a job outside of school, so I can focus on school, athletics and giving back.”
And giving back has become a defining part of Rexford’s Shocker experience.
She’s actively involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Student‑Athlete Advisory Committee and ASL Honor Society. Through these roles, she mentors younger students, advocates for her peers and builds connections across campus and the Wichita community. “Not having to get a job has helped me pursue mentorship and volunteer throughout the community,” she says.
This is where scholarship support truly multiplies: not just helping one student succeed but empowering that student to propel others forward.
Though she grew up in Kentucky, Wichita is where Rexford has chosen to invest her energy. “Pole vaulting is how I ended up in Wichita. But it’s not why I’m in Wichita,” she states. This is where she studies, trains, mentors and leads—nine to ten months out of the year. “Why would you be somewhere for four years and not want to make a difference?” she asks.
That question drives her work on campus and beyond. As part of her Miss Kansas campaign platform, Rexford is championing a statewide goal to connect 250,000 mentors with organizations like Big Brothers Big Sisters, helping make Kansas a national leader in mentorship.
Even while recovering from knee surgery, her momentum hasn’t slowed. She’s returning for the outdoor track season, focused on what comes next. “My leg’s fixed,” she says. “Now I just need to soar over new heights.” Looking ahead, Rexford hopes to become the next Miss Kansas and pursue a Master of Business Administration at Wichita State.
When she reflects on her journey, she is clear about the role donor support has played. “Truly, without the donors’ help, I would not be in Wichita,” she says. The Jabara and Shocker Athletic Scholarships gave her more than financial support—they gave her the freedom to mentor, lead and invest in others.
Abby Rexford is a living example of what scholarship support makes possible: empowering one student not just to rise but to help an entire community reach new heights.
