Cheer like Pat

By Anissa Gabbara | Photos courtesy of Pat Muthart | Read time: 6 min, 17 sec

Pat Muthart (BSEd ’79, TeachCert ’79) may live more than 1,000 miles away from her alma mater, but nothing could truly distance her from the university she loves so dearly. 

Residing in Texas for 40 years, Muthart still chants “Go Blue!” and flaunts her maize and blue pride wherever she goes. A Michigan Wolverines flag waved in front of her house for weeks in anticipation of the men’s basketball team “winning it all”—and that they did. 

One may wonder what keeps Muthart connected to the University of Michigan, and the answer is simple: She’s proud of her alma mater—and that pride led her to give back. 

Three-plus decades of giving 

As a high school teacher, Muthart felt she couldn’t give much but figured “little bits here and there” would amount to something greater. So she embarked on her giving journey and has been donating $5–$10 a month consistently to the School of Kinesiology over the last 33 years.

Muthart’s enduring philanthropy inspired Kinesiology to launch a Giving Blueday fundraising campaign to honor her legacy: Cheer Like Pat. The campaign, which included videos of Muthart, raised a total of $14,000, bolstered by a Look to Michigan campaign program that matches new recurring gifts along with the generosity of an anonymous donor.  

“What we wanted to do is try to encourage everybody to give a little bit. So if we can get people to do that, then we’ve done our job,” Muthart said of the campaign. 

Muthart’s giving is spread across the university with monthly gifts to the Marsal Family School of Education and Michigan Athletics. She hopes her philanthropy will inspire more alumni to support the university and believes in the power of numbers. 

“I’ve talked to some of my friends about this recently: If every alum—and gosh knows we have a ton of them—just gave a little bit every month, that would make such a dramatic difference,” Muthart stressed. 

Striving for more 

A lot has changed at U‑M since Muthart’s days as a student, back when the School of Kinesiology (formerly known as the Department of Physical Education) was housed in the School of Education. 

Returning to campus in January in preparation for the Cheer Like Pat campaign, Muthart took some time to walk through the Kinesiology building and realized how far the school has come. 

New teachings, innovative discoveries, and improved programs and facilities keep U‑M on the cutting edge—and keep a smile on Muthart’s face. 

 
“And that’s from donor dollars, too,” Muthart said. “So how do you make the university even better than it is? You donate.”

“I mean, that’s really what you want out of a university; to continue to strive, to improve, to get better. And these students that are going to school there now, the stuff they’re studying, it’s so impressive,” she said. “It’s kind of cool to see what they’re studying now that’s different from what I was ever given an opportunity to do. So that’s what you want. You want your university to continue to grow and improve.”

‘A little bit of home’ 

Muthart has always been a proud Wolverine, but moving to Texas made her appreciate the university all the more. Aside from the many great memories she made as a student, it’s the national pride that comes along with being a Michigan graduate she still gets a kick out of. 

“Everybody knows the school. We have such a stellar reputation and everything: academics, athletics. And so it’s really fun when someone says, ‘Oh, you went there?’” Muthart said.

Her favorite story is when she was at the gym one day and spotted a woman sporting Michigan-branded gear. Not so quick to assume she had a direct connection to U‑M, Muthart curiously asked, “Oh, how is it that you have a Michigan bag?” Turns out, the woman’s son was a pre-med student, and of all the universities he could’ve attended in his home state of Texas, he chose U‑M instead. 

Once Muthart shared she was an alumna, the two briefly bonded over their love and enthusiasm for the university. To Muthart, short encounters like this solidify U‑M as a one-of-a-kind institution. 

“There’s a lot of really good schools in Texas, but Michigan is special,” she said. “And when you’re someplace that’s different, you want to hold onto a little bit of home. And I’ve never met anybody that wasn’t impressed that I went there. Let’s put it that way.”

 
As for the flag that graces her suburban Houston neighborhood in celebration of the Wolverines’ big win? It serves a dual purpose. 

“I’ve had people go, ‘I know which house is yours because you have the Michigan flag in front,’” Muthart said. 

Her response? 

“Thank you. That was my point. I have trained you well.”