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Wichita State trumpet major Abigail Smith performs with focus and precision during a campus concert. A transfer student from Coffeyville Community College, Abigail is graduating with degrees in music education and trumpet performance.

Meet a Shocker: Abigail Smith

April 30, 2025
By WSU Strategic Communications

College of Fine Arts

From working side by side with acclaimed artists to countless opportunities to showcase your talent on and off campus, Wichita State's College of Fine Arts provides an environment where you can train like a professional and gain the skills, connections and confidence to launch your dream career.

 

Abigail Smith, a music education and trumpet performance major, transferred from Coffeyville Community College to Wichita State, where she found a supportive community and hands-on experience in local classrooms. After graduation, she’ll attend the Aspen Music Festival and School before beginning her career as an elementary music teacher in the Wichita area.

Abigail is one of more than 2,100 students eligible for spring 2025 graduation. Learn more about her time at Wichita State and what's next for the grad. 

What degree will you be earning in May? 

Bachelor of Music Education and Bachelor of Music in trumpet performance

What is your hometown? 

Coffeyville, Kansas

What schools did you attend before coming to Wichita State?

  • Field Kindley High School
  • Coffeyville Community College

Why did you choose Wichita State University? 

The professors were extremely helpful and friendly as soon as I stepped on campus to see what the community was like.

What has been your biggest challenge as a student, and how did you overcome it?

My biggest challenge as a student was juggling everything. Between homework, multiple jobs and gigging around the community, it was a lot to maneuver. I overcame it by making sure I was consistent and surrounded myself with the right people.

Did you have any applied learning experience as a student? If so, what was it? 

I am in an applied learning experience through my education degree. At the moment, I am student-teaching at Abilene Elementary School in Valley Center, Kansas. 

What are your plans after graduation?

Over the summer I will be attending Aspen Music Festival and School for five weeks in Aspen, Colorado. In the fall I'm planning on teaching elementary music in the Wichita area.

What advice would you give other Wichita State students?

Wichita State is a severely underrated institution. Take in every day while you are in college. You will miss it!

If you were given the opportunity to do a TED Talk, what would your topic be?

My TED Talk would be "How to enjoy life to the fullest."

About Wichita State University

Wichita State University is Kansas' only urban public research university, enrolling more than 23,000 students between its main campus and WSU Tech, including students from every state in the U.S. and more than 100 countries. Wichita State and WSU Tech are recognized for being student centered and innovation driven.

Located in the largest city in the state with one of the highest concentrations in the United States of jobs involving science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), Wichita State University provides uniquely distinctive and innovative pathways of applied learning, applied research and career opportunities for all of our students. The National Science Foundation ranked WSU No. 1 in the nation for aerospace engineering R&D, No. 2 for industry-funded engineering R&D and No. 8 overall for engineering R&D.

The Innovation Campus, which is a physical extension of the Wichita State University main campus, is one of the nation’s largest and fastest-growing research/innovation parks, encompassing over 120 acres and is home to a number of global companies and organizations.

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