The San Juan Capistrano City Council voted Tuesday to approve a name change to Vista Montana, the street leading into SJHHS. The new name will be Stallion Ridge.

The action came after a lengthy process led by the senior class of 2016 to rename the street as a senior class gift. Sanjan Kumar, the previous ASB President wanted to change the name of Vista Montana last year for the class of 2015’s senior gift, but the process proved difficult.

This year, the senior class officers first approached the city planning committee and it was also denied.

Senior class president Ketan Singh, ASB President Vanessa Rodriguez, and senior class Vice President David White then changed their strategy, speaking directly to the councilmembers, avoiding the lower level bureaucrats.

The group spoke at a council meeting two weeks ago about the street name dedication with the support of the senior class, ASB Director Mrs. Valderrama, PTSA President Debbie Bursey, and staff and students of SJHHS.

The ASB class officers pointed out that reasons given for not allowing the name change were invalid. The criteria state that a name has to be easily pronounceable, it can’t be repetitive, and Spanish names should be used. English can be considered, if it bears with the physical setting and its history.

Changing the name to Stallion Ridge would meet all of these criteria, yet a problem arose when the planning committee turned the name down claiming “the raising and breeding of horses was not in the history of San Juan” and that the Homeowners Association of the neighboring area and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (who own property on Vista Montana) did not approve of the name change.

Not satisfied with the reasons for not allowing the name change, White approached the Homeowners Association and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints himself. Subsequently both groups held meetings or approved of the name change. This was then reported to the planning committee, which reports to the city council.

The senior class officers left their senior class field trip to Disneyland early in order to attend the city council meeting to hear the news. After it was approved they went back to the park.

Although there were a few setbacks, the vote last Tuesday validated the work of the class of 2016.

Senior class gifts in the past has cost the school money, this year’s gift cost nothing out of the school’s budget because the sign changing of the street sign is funded by the city of San Juan Capistrano.

The official street sign name is expected to be changed by the last day of school, June 9, but will not be delayed any later than the end of this summer.

Other schools, such as Tesoro High School, San Clemente High School, and Aliso Viejo High School, also proudly display their school spirit by having a street named after their school. White said, “I feel like it’s the community coming together more, it’s a celebration.”

Singh, White, and Rodriguez credit Erica Delamare and the other members of the Youth Advisory Board, along with Councilmen Reeve and Jim Reardon for the help to not only rename the street, but to help add to the prideful culture at SJHHS.