Pole Vaulter Wins $10K NCAA Scholarship, Heads to Harvard

A college athlete who spent her summers coaching kids with bleeding disorders just won a $10,000 scholarship to study how cities can better serve everyone.

Sarah Firth graduated from Tufts University in February with magna cum laude honors in quantitative economics. She also happened to be a seven-time NCAA qualifier in pole vault and a six-time All-American who holds her school's indoor record.

The NCAA selected her as one of only 21 female student-athletes across all three divisions to receive its Postgraduate Scholarship. The award recognizes outstanding academic achievement, athletic excellence, and community leadership.

Firth completed her degree in just seven semesters while minoring in urban studies and geoscience. She worked as a grant writer, spent a summer in Greece with Tufts' Global Research Assistant Program, and wrote for the student newspaper. She even found time for the Greek Music Ensemble, playing vocals and accordion.

Her most meaningful work came as a camp counselor for young girls affected by bleeding disorders. For the past two summers, she volunteered with the Alaska Hemophilia Association, helping campers navigate their challenges.

Now she's taking everything she learned to Harvard's Graduate School of Design to study urban planning. Living in Somerville, Massachusetts gave her a front-row seat to thoughtful city design. Traveling for track meets showed her what works and what doesn't in cities across America.

"Through Tufts athletics, I was able to travel all over the country, experiencing different cities and seeing firsthand what worked and what didn't when it came to urban design," Firth said. She wants to learn how cities can better serve the people who live in them.

Her faculty advisor called her "one of the most talented students" he's advised in 30 years. He praised how she balanced curiosity with careful work, exploring unfamiliar territories while excelling at everything she tried.

Why This Inspires

Firth proves that excellence in one area doesn't mean sacrificing others. She didn't choose between athletics, academics, music, journalism, or service. She showed up fully for all of it. Her story challenges the myth that specialization is the only path to achievement. Instead, she built a life where pole vaulting informed her understanding of cities, economics shaped her community service, and every experience fed the next.

Before starting at Harvard this fall, she's already back to work as a sportswriter for USA Gymnastics, a math tutor, and a pole vault coach.