Sticking With Southern Vermont College: The Story Behind My SVC Car Decal

You’d be surprised how many great conversations start at a gas pump just because of this bumper sticker. Once a Mountaineer, always a Mountaineer.

I'm often asked about the Southern Vermont College decal on my car's back window, a small, yet powerful symbol of a college that closed its doors in 2019 but still lives on in the hearts of alumni and many in the community.

It's been years since SVC held its final graduation, and yet, a simple green sticker featuring the college's name and a moose manages to bridge the gap and start meaningful conversations. 

Just last week, I was grabbing my morning coffee at Cumberland Farms when a stranger nodded at the decal. 'SVC, huh? Used to love driving up that mountain.'

In a single, shared moment, I was reminded of how deeply SVC was woven into the fabric of Bennington and how many lives it touched. The comments usually revolve around the beautiful campus, the dedicated professors, or a memorable Mountaineers game, but always, they are colored by fondness.

It's strange how something as common as a bumper sticker can become a historical artifact, a tangible link to a place that no longer operates but refuses to be forgotten. 

I, like many alumni, am committed to keeping that memory alive, even through the smallest of gestures.

I’m fortunate to have two of these SVC decals—both originally picked up from the college's infamous basement bookstore inside the Everett Mansion. One is safely on display in my office, while the other rides on my car's back window. 

While I hope to make this pair last as long as possible, I'm already scouring eBay and Etsy on the hunt for old stock.

Because, for me, and I know for so many of you reading this, SVC is not just a place we attended, but a part of who we are. So if you see me in traffic, or at Cumberland Farms, feel free to give a nod or even ask. I'd be happy to share a memory or two of the small college on the side of the mountain, a place we simply cannot let go of.

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SVC, Bennington, VT Estate - Mount Anthony

Relic of Mount Anthony: Remembering the 2006 SVC Mud Bowl Rugby Tournament

Front view of the grey heather 2006 SVC Mud Bowl Rugby Tournament t-shirt, featuring an oval collegiate logo with bold "XXL" block lettering.

There is something undeniably nostalgic about pulling an old piece of college memorabilia out of storage—especially when it carries as much character as a grey heather t-shirt from two decades ago.

This particular shirt takes us back to April 2006 and commemorates one of the most spirited athletics traditions at Southern Vermont College: the Mud Bowl.

The Front: Oval Logo Simplicity

The front graphic keeps things clean and classic with a traditional oval border print. Styled in bold serif block lettering, it reads:

• SOUTHERN VERMONT COLLEGE

• XXL (boldly featured right in the center)

• MUD BOWL 2006

The oversized "XXL" badge front-and-center gives it that distinct mid-2000s tournament look.

The Back: The Participating Squads

The back of the shirt reveals the tournament lineup, capturing a snapshot of regional rugby rivalries and campus turnout for that year's matches:

• Castleton State

• Lyndon State (Men & Women)

• Southern Vermont College (Men, Women & Alumni)

At the bottom of the design, a small sponsor credit notes: “Shirts Courtesy of Campus Customs.”

The Alumni Warthogs Return

According to local coverage from The Bennington Banner leading up to the event, the 2006 tournament brought back a solid roster of former players for the Alumni Warthogs squad. 

The alumni lineup featured returning graduates and familiar faces including Joe "JL" Lynch '05, Nate Ensel '04, Carlos Gutierrez '06, Chris Malavarca '05, Pete "Hands Behind the Back" Moschak '05, Ryan "Peppers" Peters '05, Tim Travis '04, Joe Welch '02, and Rob Wise '05, alongside Tim Folley, Sean Hughes, Ben Jones, Matt Perry, and Matt Willey.

To help fans catch up with returning graduates, a dedicated Warthog tent was set up along the sidelines offering event concessions, refreshments, and these commemorative tournament t-shirts.

Shared Memories

Did you play in the 2006 Mud Bowl or hang out at the Warthog tent that weekend? Drop a comment below with your favorite memories, match stories, or pictures from the pitch!

Back view of the grey 2006 SVC Mud Bowl t-shirt listing participating teams Castleton State, Lyndon State, and Southern Vermont College, along with a sponsor credit for Campus Customs.

Note: Some links in this post are affiliate links. That means if you click through and buy something, I might earn a small commission at zero extra cost to you. Thanks so much for supporting The SVC Blog!

Southern Vermont College Mansion, Bennington Glass

WBTN Bennington: Tim Thompson Interviews SVC Cross Country Captain

Thompson & Captain Alisha Somero take a break during an interview about SVC's successful 2002 cross-country season.

 

Mountaineer Pride: The 2002 SVC Women's Softball Team

Lady Mountaineers ready to take the field. Spring, 2002.

 

'Toilet Talk' Was Newsletter to Be Read on the Can - Southern Vermont College Dorms

 

In a pre-smart phone era, SVC students caught up with campus news during their most vulnerable moments.

College students have always been busy, so the SVC Residence Life Department came up with an ingenious way to keep everyone up to date on campus happenings: posting a newsletter directly across from the toilet!

Toilet Talk dates back to the early 2000s, before the days of smartphones, tablets, and social media. Back then, a trip to the bathroom offered a rare moment free from digital distractions, making it the perfect opportunity for the Residence Director to share important news with students living on campus.

The topics reflected everyday life in the residence halls. One issue tackled the SVC fire extinguisher policy, while another outlined spring break housing guidelines. Students were also tempted with free food and phone cards if they volunteered for the annual Phone-a-thon. 

Whether it was reminders, campus policies, or upcoming events, Toilet Talk made sure students stayed informed—even in the most unexpected place.

Publications like Toilet Talk have largely disappeared in today's connected world, replaced by emails, text messages, and social media posts. 

Still, it's hard not to smile when looking back on those simpler days at the foot of Mt. Anthony, when life moved at a slower pace and the evening's biggest decision might just have been choosing between a Bud Light and a Busch.

Note: Some links in this post are affiliate links. That means if you click through and buy something, I might earn a small commission at zero extra cost to you. Thanks so much for supporting The SVC Blog!

Bennington, VT Mansion - Mount Anthony

2002 Southern Vermont College Track & Field | Williams College Relays Results

A piece of Mountaineer athletic history detailing team achievements at Williams College.

What Southern Vermont College lacked in size, it more than made up for in skill, perseverance, and sheer grit. 

One glance at the championship banners hanging in the Fieldhouse—or the trophies and plaques lining Athletic Director Scott Kilgallon's office—offered all the proof anyone needed. Together, they told the story of countless SVC teams that rose to the top through talent, teamwork, and determination.

This media handout from April 13, 2002, details the results for the Southern Vermont College Track & Field team at the Williams College Relays. Key highlights include:

Women:

1500M

Stephanie Kopala, 5:36.10.

Amanda Laird, 6:10.00, personal best by 8 seconds.

800M      

Stephanie Kopala, 2:48.17, new SVC record (record Laird, 2:57, 2001).

*Shot Put  

Bree Spaulding, 26'02.00", new SVC record (record Spaulding, 24'06", 2002).

10,000M

Alisha Somero, 51:29

Men:

200M

Greg Glanville, 25:90, great 1st race!

400M

Greg Glanville, 62.1, personal best!

800M

Brandon Canevari 3:49:00

1500M

John Brady, 5:02.00

10,000M

Dan Dix 34:09.8, 1st place, strong kick.

*Long Jump

Matt Dubois, 21'05.75", new SVC record, 2nd place. (Record, 21'03.5", Dubois, 2001).

Shot Put

Dan Dubois, 37'07"

Matt Dubois, 37'05"

Nick Roman, 31'06"

Joe Rheaume, 25'05.75", personal record.

Weight Mans 4 x 100 Relay

Matt Dubois

Nick Roman, 1st place, 49:25

Joe Rheaume

Dan Dubois

High Jump

Matt Dubois, 6'0", 3rd place.

Dan Dubois, 5'10"

Rob Wise, 5'4"

*New SVC school record.

Highlights:

Spaulding, Kopala & Dubois: new SVC records.

Dix great kick to win 10,000m.

Men's Weight Man Team defended their 4 x 100M relay title.

Men's High Jump Team defended their HJ team title.

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SVC, Bennington, VT Estate - Mount Anthony T-Shirt

Brushstrokes of Bennington: Memories of Professor Winterhalter’s Watercolor Class

Painted on the tiled patio of the Everett Mansion during a crisp Bennington autumn.

Nobody will mistake it for a masterpiece, but this is my watercolor interpretation of the Southern Vermont College campus.

It was my sophomore year, and my course load was looking pretty intimidating. Hoping to balance things out, I enrolled in Introduction to Watercolors as an elective, taught by the legendary Professor Greg Winterhalter.

The start of the fall semester always meant long lines in the basement SVC bookstore.

I knew I was in for a treat when manager Wanda handed me paints, brushes, and a palette—but no textbooks. At last, a class where I could relax while learning a new skill.

Of course, it wasn't all fun and games. Greg's trademark slide presentations taught us the fundamentals of watercolor technique and color theory.

Once we had mastered the basics, he gave us a demonstration of his own. The class watched in amazement as he transformed a blank sheet of paper into a stunning watercolor in just a matter of minutes.

After a few sessions painting fruit and still lifes, we graduated to bigger and better subjects: the great outdoors.

Armed with jackets, coffee, and the occasional cigarette, we gathered on the Everett Mansion's tiled patio, where sweeping views of Bennington and the Green Mountains served as our classroom.

Stone walls, fiery autumn leaves, stately evergreens, and the Battle Monument rising in the distance—an aspiring artist couldn't have asked for a more inspiring landscape.

More than 20 years later, this watercolor still brings a smile to my face.

Life at SVC wasn't always easy. Between demanding classes and a part-time job, there was rarely much time to slow down. But Introduction to Watercolors offered a welcome escape from those daily pressures.

Sitting on the Everett Mansion patio on a crisp autumn afternoon, paintbrush in hand, surrounded by good friends and spectacular scenery—that's the kind of college memory that stays with you for a lifetime.

Note: Some links in this post are affiliate links. That means if you click through and buy something, I might earn a small commission at zero extra cost to you. Thanks so much for supporting The SVC Blog!

Bennington, VT Vintage Map