FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 29, 2018

CONTACT:
Gordon Vadakin
Phone (316) 978-7655
Fax (316) 978-6056
email - shocker.bowling@wichita.edu
www.wichita.edu/bowling

Shocker Bowling Alum Pledges $50,000 in Scholarship

WICHITA, Kan. – In the fall of 1999, Nick Vaughn took that leap of faith that many new student-athletes do. He left the comfort of his home in Tucson, Arizona and traveled to Wichita, Kansas to major in business and go through tryouts to earn a spot on Wichita State’s national championship men’s bowling team.

Considering himself one of the best young bowlers in Arizona, Vaughn was honored to receive a small bowling scholarship for the fall semester. In Vaughn’s mind, making the team seemed automatic. He quickly found out that everything was quite different than what he thought it was going to be.

“I was not as good as I thought I was,” Nick said. “Being around so many other great players was very humbling.”

Rather than give in to shock and fear, Vaughn found motivation in his new situation.
“I got interested in learning. The constant pressure taught me to come through – and not just in bowling, but class as well.”

After graduating with his bachelor’s degree in marketing and management, Nick moved up rapidly through corporate ranks. He started with a position working for a local swimwear company, he then transitioned into the outdoor industry as a senior product manager with the Coleman Company. After this position, he moved on to a marketing job with Hallmark Cards as an innovation leader. Now, as a co-founder of Insight2Design, Nick wanted to create products with a real value proposition that hasn't been seen in the industry.

At some point along his journey, Nick realized that most of the success attributed to him, was truly the result of a team of people that had supported him along the way. The Wichita State bowling program, according to Vaughn, was one of those key supporters that gave him skills he needed to succeed.

“In Shocker Bowling, we all learned great team play, how to communicate, to compromise, along with developing a love of hard work and learning. All along I thought I was learning all of this so I could be a better bowler, but honestly, it wasn't about bowling; it was all about my life. I simply took all of these skills and knowledge and used them in my life, and career.”

When asked what he would say to other alumni of the Shocker Bowling program about what he and his wife Ola are doing for his alma mater, Vaughn said “Everyone got something out of the program. These kind of successful programs don't just run themselves. Shocker Bowling did something that positively impacted my life. We want to give back and others should give back, to the level they are comfortable with, as well.”

Head coach Gordon Vadakin said “This is an amazing gift from Nick and his family. This amount of additional scholarship aid will certainly make a difference in reducing some of the cost of college to our future recipients and their families.”

The Nick and Ola Vaughn Scholarships will award $10,000 per year, starting in the fall of 2018 and continuing for five years.

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The Rhatigan Student Center has been the major financial and administrative supporter of the Wichita State University bowling program since 1959.