In 2015, the Michigan Mudbowl faced one of the greatest challenges in its long history.
Following the suspension of Sigma Alpha Epsilon's University of Michigan chapter, the organizational foundation that had supported the event for generations was suddenly uncertain.
For a tradition dating back to 1934, its future was anything but guaranteed.
But a group of determined students believed the Mudbowl was too important to lose.
Among them were Nicolas Cargill and Andrew Soenksen, whose dedication helped carry the tradition forward during this uncertain chapter.
For these young men, the Mudbowl represented far more than a fraternity football game. It was an opportunity to bring the Michigan community together in support of children and families at C.S. Mott Children's Hospital.
When asked what fueled their commitment to keeping the tradition alive, their answer captured the spirit of the Mudbowl:
#FerDaKids.
Their determination inspired alumni to rally around the students and help build a lasting foundation for the event's future.
In 2016, University of Michigan alumnus Joseph Van Harken established the Michigan Mudbowl Club's nonprofit framework, creating a structure designed to provide organizational continuity, financial stewardship, and long-term stability while preserving student leadership of the event.
With important contributions from fellow alumni Brett Goldman and Daniel Sibor, and the event-management expertise of Samantha Goldwyn, that vision took shape.
The result was a partnership built on a simple principle:
The alumni protect the opportunity. The students make it their own.
On October 22, 2016, the Michigan Mudbowl Club presented a ceremonial $47,000 check benefiting C.S. Mott Children's Hospital—a powerful symbol of what students, alumni, and supporters could accomplish together.
Today, that same partnership continues to sustain the Mudbowl, empowering successive generations of student leaders to carry forward its traditions and philanthropic mission.
