If you’re like most students at SCC, you’re probably drinking from a tumbler right now. These insulated, reusable beverage containers are everywhere and the campus is no exception.

SCC student Danny Aldaw carries his on campus to stay hydrated, but he has a special reason for carrying this specific one, “It was a gift from my sister.”

His Gatorade-branded water bottle – which he carries by hand not in his backpack to make it easier to drink – holds 30 ounces and has a specialized top to accept Gatorade pods to mix sodium and potassium into the water to replace electrolytes lost through sweating. As an athlete, Aldaw says this helps him a lot.

Walking through the PUB, students everywhere are carrying these containers. For a time, Starbucks cups were the beverage container of choice for students. But the Stanley Cup went viral and, with this craze, people are desperate to collect all the colors and collections.

There are many videos on the internet of people queuing up at the entrance of Target early in the morning with one goal: Get the newest, hottest colors of the Stanley tumbler. The contemporary marketplace is filled with a plethora of water bottle brands, ranging from budget-friendly options to higher-end offerings like the Stanley tumbler. Today, students choose the bottles that fit their personalities.

Anna Artamonova, an SCC nursing student, says she has a big collection of tumblers at home and loves the different colors and brands. Her little trick is to fill them all up and just grab any one whenever she heads out the door. Her favorites are the insulated ones because they keep the water cold.

As Artamonova was talking, another student walked by to give a differing opinion of this trend. Thao Troung said, “I don’t see the point in buying so many reusable bottles because they defeat the purpose, so I prefer to drink water straight from recyclable bottles.”

Despite this environmental and sustainability concerns, the rise of the tumbler trend as a way of self-expression on college campuses signifies a broader cultural shift in how we perceive and utilize everyday objects. What began as an ordinary vessel for hydration has evolved into a symbol of social status.

Two other students, Maddie and Alison, showed off their Stanley bottles and said that in addition to carrying them to stay hydrated, they also think they are fun.

“It’s cute and you can even add fun toppers to accessorize,” Maddie said.

You can find the video of students sharing stories with their water bottles on our Instagram: @scc_theebbtide