Funding

ANNUAL SHOCKER BOWLING PROGRAM FUNDING

Funds to support the WSU Shocker bowling teams come from a variety of sources. In essence, there are two basic accounts or funds through which all bowling program expenses and incomes flow: a) the Operational Fund and b) the Bowling Scholarship Fund.

I. THE OPERATIONAL FUND

This pool of financial resources facilitates the program's annual day-to-day, real-dollar expense of program operations.

Operational Fund Income - Fund Raising

A. The Strike-a-thon and "Shocker Bowling Ball Giveaway"

The annual Strike-a-thon, staged by the Shocker bowlers, is the single largest fund raising event of the year, bringing in anywhere from $20,000 to $35,000. Prior to the Strike-a-thon, each bowler gathers sponsors at a minimum of $.10 per strike. Then, on a designated date, all bowlers (assigned to squads throughout the day) attempt to roll as many strikes as possible. Each squad ends when the first bowler rolls 100 strikes. Each bowler is then responsible for collecting all pledged money from each sponsor. The annual bowling ball "giveaway" involves the program's selected men and women's team student-athletes as they systematically sell giveaway tickets at all of our community's local bowling centers. This program is scheduled to last three weeks and generate between $8,000.00 - $12,000.00. The money brought in helps to support the ever increasing operating costs of the teams, such as travel expenses, entry fees, uniforms, etc. The giveaway and Strike-a-thon's success - and in reality - the program's total operation, depends on the Shocker bowlers themselves, and the generosity of many gracious sponsors as well. This money is directly applied to the program's cost of operating. Examples of these costs are: tournament and conference travel expenses (i.e., gas, lodging and entry fees in addition to meal dollars), printing costs, postage and phone call expenses.

B. Student Fees

The Student Government Association (SGA) at Wichita State University, through the Student Fees allocation process, also applies financial support to the program's operational costs. Additionally each student-athlete who tries out for the bowling team annually pays a ‘program participation fee’ to help offset the expenses.

C. Rhatigan Student Center

The RSC is far more than simply the Shocker bowling program's official sponsor; they are the home of the on-campus bowling center, which is located in the Rec Center. By choice, the RSC does not actually put "real dollars" towards the teams hands-on expenses (travel costs, uniforms, etc). They do, however, represent one of the biggest single sources of support the program has. The RSC pays most of the program's overhead charges, such as: van/vehicle maintenance, repair and replacement; use of office space; and, tremendous support of individual and team needs for access to Rec Center bowling facilities, and relevant lane maintenance. The RSC provides significant tangible support in meeting expenses related to utilities, the Book Plan scholarship and many other day-to-day and long-term personnel and financial needs (e.g., accounting, insurance, and computer support functions).

Operational Fund Expense

1. Tournament and travel expenses - entry fees, lodging, meal expenses, transportation (vans/airlines/charter buses)
2. Printing and duplicating
3. Long distance phone charges
4. Team photography
5. Uniforms
6. Postage
7. Instructional tapes, videos and books
8. Office supplies
9. Office Staff, marketing
10. Miscellaneous expenses

The Bottom Line - Operations

It is a fact that the WSU bowling program is highly subsidized by the RSC. With an operational budget topping $430,000 there is little doubt that the yearly costs of the team are increasing and is substantially supported by the RSC. In fact, even with substantial income from both the fund raising and SGA support, the program's true, annual, operational costs greatly exceed its own ability to pay for them. This is where the RSC steps forward and offsets these costs. While the RSC bears the brunt of the program expenses, the University itself reaps the huge economic benefits from all the students in the program. With the vast majority of Shocker bowlers being out-of-state residents, WSU tuition and fees and room and board income is enormous. An obvious conclusion is that the bowling teams are a tremendous value to WSU. Certainly the quality of the program and the extensive notoriety the team has garnered in recent years has snowballed and created immediate name recognition not only among the 300,000 or so sanctioned youth bowlers in the USA, but most Shocker sports fans, in general.

II. THE SCHOLARSHIP FUND

Separate and distinct from the program's operational fund, the scholarship fund also receives income from several sources to cover its annual expenses such as partial tuition grants to bowling scholarship recipients.

A. The Rhatigan Student Center – The RSC will contribute approximately $100,000.00 toward scholarships.
B. Fundraised contributions - It is anticipated that, approximately $20,000.00 of the above total scholarship outlay will be offset from individual and corporate contributions, tournament scholarship winnings, additional fund raisers, etc.

Scholarship Fund Expenses

The annual number of scholarship recipients can vary from year to year, but roughly 25 student-athletes are on some form of bowling scholarship assistance each year. Partial grants of either $700.00, $1400.00, $2,100.00 or $2,800.00 per semester are awarded to scholarship recipients with out of state residency. In state resident recipients receive either $650.00 or $750.00. Up to 25 athletes receive text book scholarships.