The esteemed W. Frank Barton School of Business at the esteemed Wichita State University has recently announced the latest recipients of the 2024 Professor Fran Jabara Scholarship in Entrepreneurship. This year’s deserving winners are Annika Lindeman from Eisenhower High School in Goddard, Kansas, and Abby Rexford from West Jessamine High School in Wilmore, Kentucky. Each of them is set to receive a generous amount of over £32,700 spread out over four years to support their journey as they pursue their major in entrepreneurship at WSU.
Dr. Larisa Genin, dean of the Barton School of Business, proudly expressed, “The Barton School’s dedication to fostering entrepreneurship extends far beyond traditional classroom teachings. These scholarships serve as a testament to our ongoing commitment to remain one of the leading institutions for entrepreneurship in the nation. I am delighted to extend a warm welcome to Annika and Abby as they join the Barton family.”
The Jabara Scholarship is recognized as one of the most substantial of its kind nationwide for future entrepreneurs. To qualify, a student must compose an essay and have attained at least a 24 score on their ACT, a 3.5 high school GPA, and declare entrepreneurship as their major. The scholarship pays homage to the late Fran Jabara, a respected WSU faculty member for four decades who founded the Center for Entrepreneurship at WSU. Aside from his role as the dean of the College of Business Administration, Jabara was also honoured with the Faculty Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001 and the President’s Medal in 2002.
As a senior at Eisenhower High School, Lindeman has demonstrated her passion for dancing through her involvement in numerous related activities, such as assistant teaching, En Avant Youth Ballet, the Nutcracker, and dance competitions. Her ambition is to pursue entrepreneurship at the Barton School in order to equip herself with the skills and knowledge necessary to establish her own dance studio.
Rexford, on the other hand, is a senior at West Jessamine High School. Not only is she the team captain of her school’s track and field team, but she also participates in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Her diverse range of interests includes sewing, crocheting, cooking, and photography.
Both Lindeman and Rexford have shared their respective aspirations for the future. Lindeman expressed, “I want to own a dance studio so that I can pursue passions, explore my creativity, and spread the joy of dance to others. Having this scholarship will relieve a lot of the financial stress associated with college, helping me have a much more enjoyable college experience and allowing me to save money for my studio.”
Rexford, meanwhile, conveyed her desire to open her own design company, stating, “The Barton School of Business offers an excellent foundation for the business world and applicable life experiences. I desire to open my own design company. Whether an interior or clothing design company, I love the hands-on aspect of design. Having a company would present a vessel to demonstrate my passion for inventiveness and allow me to bring my ideas to life.”
In closing, Wichita State University, the sole urban public research university in Kansas, is notable for enrolling more than 23,000 students from all corners of the globe. Recognized for being student-centered and innovation-driven, WSU and WSU Tech offer unique and innovative pathways of applied learning, applied research, and career opportunities. Furthermore, the university’s Innovation Campus is a thriving hub for research and innovation, home to numerous global companies and organizations.
Overall, the announcement of the 2024 Jabara Scholars in Entrepreneurship has further highlighted Wichita State University’s unwavering commitment to nurturing the next generation of entrepreneurial leaders. Congratulations to Annika Lindeman and Abby Rexford for their remarkable achievement!
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