Topo Designs University

Back to school season has us feeling nostalgic, so we decided to indulge in a trip down memory lane to remember some things about our college days... Like what we were listening to, what we were wearing, and what a wiser version of ourselves might have worn. Scroll down to time travel.

Rick Vanderleek

Where'd you go to school?: University of Michigan
What year was it?: 1992
What was the mascot?: Wolverine
What song were you playing on repeat? Girlfriend by Matthew Sweet
On what kind of technology?: Sony Discman
What was your major?: Graphic Design
And what are you doing now?: Art Direction + Design
Go-to dorm meal?: Taco Bell (just up the street from East Quad)
Go-to outdoor activity?: Hacky sack, frisbee, or mountain biking
Favorite article of clothing?: Birks
School pack?: Can't remember exactly, but I lugged around a large flat file + portfolio case often with art projects tucked in.
What Topo pack would you carry to school if you were a freshman today?: Klettersack, no doubt.

Sean Han

Where'd you go to school?: CU Boulder
What year was it?: 1994
What was the mascot?: Buffaloes
What song were you playing on repeat? Regulate by Warren G or Yellow Ledbetter by Pearl Jam
On what kind of technology?: Sony Discman
What was your major?: Biology and Music
And what are you doing now?: Trying to sell backpacks and clothes
Go-to dorm meal?: Frosted Flakes
Go-to outdoor activity?: Skiing at Mary Jane!!!
Favorite article of clothing?: TNF Denali Fleece
School pack?: Eddie Bauer Day Pack
What Topo pack would you carry to school if you were a freshman today?: Daypack – Navy/Leather

Ben Harris

Where'd you go to school?: University of Nevada Reno
What year was it?: 2002
What was the mascot?: The Wolfpack (Alphie, Luna, Wolfie Jr.)
What song were you playing on repeat? By The Way by Red Hot Chili Peppers
On what kind of technology?: Blackberry
What was your major?: Mechanical Engineering (later switched to Business School and Marketing)
And what are you doing now?: eCommerce
Go-to dorm meal?: Sushi
Go-to outdoor activity?: Intramural sports, any and all
Favorite article of clothing?: Sandals
School pack?: The North Face
What Topo pack would you carry to school if you were a freshman today?: Klettersack or Rover Pack

Sarah Wakeen

Where'd you go to school?: University of Wisconsin-Madison
What year was it?: 2004
What was the mascot?: Bucky Badger (hell yeah go big red)
What song were you playing on repeat? Just Like Honey by The Jesus & Mary Chain
On what kind of technology?: iPod mini
What was your major?: Art History
And what are you doing now?: Social Media Marketing
Go-to dorm meal?: Cheese curds
Go-to outdoor activity?: Anything on Lake Mendota (hiking, swimming, sailing, etc.)
Favorite article of clothing?: Abercrombie & Fitch jeans that were way too big on me.
School pack?: Fossil messenger bag
What Topo pack would you carry to school if you were a freshman today?: Global Briefcase - I could still get that messenger bag vibe and have easy access to my iPod Mini with those front pockets.

Dan McComb

Where'd you go to school?: UMASS Amherst
What year was it?: 2005
What was the mascot?: Sam the Minuteman (oh the jokes!)
What song were you playing on repeat? The General by Dispatch
On what kind of technology?: iPod something
What was your major?: Biochemistry
And what are you doing now?: Operations
Go-to dorm meal?: Sushi or Stir Fry
Go-to outdoor activity?: Beach Volleyball!
Favorite article of clothing?: Adidas Hoodie
School pack?: No clue, swiss something.
What Topo pack would you carry to school if you were a freshman today?: Klettersack or 3-Day Global because it's obviously the best and who knows where you'll wake up.

Matt Williams

Where'd you go to school?: Missouri State University
What year was it?: 2006
What was the mascot?: Da Bears
What song were you playing on repeat? Kick, Push by Lupe Fiasco
On what kind of technology?: A used Blackberry and the dormitory's community desktop
What was your major?: Business Management
And what are you doing now?: Business Management
Go-to dorm meal?: Denver Omelette – the universe was telling me something
Go-to outdoor activity?: Water skiing
Favorite article of clothing?: I was pledging a fraternity, so it was our gold/blue pledge shirts (virtual head smack!)
School pack?: Jansport
What Topo pack would you carry to school if you were a freshman today?: Rover Pack Classic

Jennifer Maupin

Where'd you go to school?: Virginia Tech
What year was it?: 2006
What was the mascot?: Hokie (I know, what’s a Hokie?)
What song were you playing on repeat? Summertime by Kenny Chesney ha ha!
On what kind of technology?: iPod shuffle and a Nokia phone (without wifi, obviously)
What was your major?: Apparel, Housing, Resource Management
And what are you doing now?: Apparel Development
Go-to dorm meal?: Easy Mac in the individual cups
Go-to outdoor activity?: Frisbee on the drillfield & hiking McAfee Knob
Favorite article of clothing?: My maroon Champion VT hoodie… which I still have
School pack?: (I hate to admit this) Vera Bradley shoulder tote. I promise, it was cool in the South East 16 years ago!
What Topo pack would you carry to school if you were a freshman today?: The Camo Rover Shoulder Pack for my design classes & the Daypack Heritage Canvas for the classes with lots of books - easy to throw everything in and I’m a fan of the top zip so it’s easy to get in and out of!

John Taylor

Where'd you go to school?: Flagler College
What year was it?: 2008
What was the mascot?: Saints
What song were you playing on repeat? Probably something like Nevertheless by The Brian Jonestown Massacre
On what kind of technology?: iPod Classic
What was your major?: Fine Art and Graphic Design
And what are you doing now?: Senior Designer
Go-to dorm meal?: Hao Hao Ramen for sure.
Go-to outdoor activity?: Nothing like skateboarding to take my mind off of school.
Favorite article of clothing?: boardshorts
School pack?: Had a couple bags but I mainly used a Camelbak backpack and an Arcteryx backpack
What Topo pack would you carry to school if you were a freshman today?: Rover Pack Tech

Rose Spella

Where'd you go to school?: UW Milwaukee
What year was it?: 2008
What was the mascot?: Panthers
What song were you playing on repeat? Hahahaha oh god. This is embarrassing... It was the first year "I Love College" came out by Asher Roth.... so that was definitely on repeat 😂
On what kind of technology?: PC laptop...
What was your major?: Undecided
And what are you doing now?: Customer Service Rep for Topo
Go-to dorm meal?: Ramen noodles
Go-to outdoor activity?: Beach volleyball league!
Favorite article of clothing?: Probably my flip flops that I wore every time I took a shower in the dorms....siiiiick.
School pack?: Don't even remember...ha
What Topo pack would you carry to school if you were a freshman today?: Rover Pack Classic or Daypack!

Khristian Gilham

Where'd you go to school?: Colorado State University
What year was it?: 2011
What was the mascot?: Rams
What song were you playing on repeat? Mrs. Cold by Kings of Convenience, (I was a bit dramatic back then...)
On what kind of technology?: iPod Nano- the one with the camera. Lots of good content on that iPod, I'm sure.
What was your major?: Art
And what are you doing now?: Apparel Designer
Go-to dorm meal?: Instant Mac 'n Cheese or Goldfish
Go-to outdoor activity?: Climbing
Favorite article of clothing?: Tweed Long coat with a pretty fashiony asymmetrical zipper. So.
School pack?: Burton bag, (hand-me-down from brother)
What Topo pack would you carry to school if you were a freshman today?: Daypack, so simple and still looks cool

Leah Petrie

Where'd you go to school?: Colorado State University
What year was it?: 2016
What was the mascot?: Rams
What song were you playing on repeat? 33 God by Bon Iver (I definitely checked my Spotify Wrapped for this one)
On what kind of technology?: iPhone
What was your major?: Journalism and Art
And what are you doing now?: Warehouse Assistant
Go-to dorm meal?: Tuesday/Thursday breakfast burritos at Parmalee
Go-to outdoor activity?: Biking everywhere!
Favorite article of clothing?: my Birks
School pack?: A United By Blue backpack I regretted once seeing Topo bags around campus (true story, topo backpacks are iconic on campus).
What Topo pack would you carry to school if you were a freshman today?: Rover Pack Classic in Natural all the way!

Shout out to Leah for being the only one of us on this list who could reference her Spotify Wrapped to help her out. The rest of us will be over at @iamthirtyaf to help us remember that time in our lives.