Wichita State athletes are literally having their future built for them from the ground up by avid WSU supporters in the community.

Shocker Athletics Scholarship Organizations (SASO) has teamed up with Klausmeyer Construction for the third year in a row in the Shocker House program where a house is built in the Wichita area and is sold with the proceeds going to SASO to benefit student athletes.

“I’ve [been] a Wichita State follower since the early 60’s,” Don Klausmeyer, owner of Klausmeyer Construction said.

Klausmeyer has played a large role in the community and is glad to support the school by not only lending his time and resources for the project, but his connections too. The project has been building houses in the Wichita area since 1976.

There is a long list of local businesses who believe in the program and who are willing to invest in the future of student athletes.

“Hundreds of people are involved in building a house and he just kind of tapped in to the whole network and everybody kind of does their part,” Patrick Goebel, president of Star Lumber said.

Star Lumber donates materials like trusses, cabinets, carpets and windows. Goebel, a WSU alumnus, is proud to have the opportunity to contribute.

“I think this is a great way for a lot of people that maybe wouldn’t have another opportunity to give back to the university. It’s a great way for guys to give back in a way of doing what they do every day,” Goebel said.

Matt Baty, a former assistant athletic director of WSU, modeled the idea after a similar program he saw succeed at another university and realized its potential for WSU.

Baty approached Klausmeyer with the idea of participating in the program during their sons’ little league game. Klausmeyer graciously accepted the opportunity.

“I believe it’s a unique idea and it’s unique that we have such great supporters of Wichita State Athletics that they would donate their time and services to benefit the student athlete’s scholarships,” Alex Johnson, Assistant Director, Development said.

Implementing the same attentiveness Klausmeyer puts into all of his construction, the Shocker House is built no differently. The two already sold houses combined have yielded SASO over $120,000 for a general athletic scholarship fund.

“We build it the same as we do any other home and we try to pick the most popular plan that we have to build which enhances the chance of us selling it quicker.” Klausmeyer said.

Shocker House III is in the sheet rock stage of development. The builders expect to be finished by September. The house is located in the Harvest Ridge Addition in Schulte, Kan. The house will be 1,256-square-feet, have three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a two-car garage, among other amenities.

Klausmeyer and other supporters intend to build a house every year.

“We appreciate being a part of it. It’s a good time to be a shocker fan and WSU is an important part of Wichita so it’s an easy project to feel good about,” Goebel said.

Current contributors include Klausmeyer Construction, Legacy Bank, Chad Abbott Survey, Seiwert Services – Excavating, Ruud Concrete, Brian Neal Foundations, Professional Waterproofing Inc., Star Lumber & Supply, B&B Lumber, A.M. Plumbing, Hanna Heating and Air Conditioning Inc., Central States Electric, Central States Lighting, NorthStar Comfort Services, Pioneer Materials, Drywall Perfections, Perfection Structural Components, LLC., Acme Brick, REW Materials, Tony’s Drywall and Westar Energy.