He’s finally here! He has a head full of flames. He brings the HEAT to any competition.
He sets your education goals aflame. He sparks camaraderie and school spirit. He motivates and drives success.
These are just some of the characteristics that describe Blaze, the new San Juan College (SJC) mascot, who officially arrived on campus in April with an unmistakable swagger in his stride.
Even though Blaze is new, the sun has been integral to San Juan College’s history. SJC became the second independent community college in New Mexico in 1982. That same year the San Juan College Advisory Board, which eventually became the Board of Trustees, was formed and Dr. James C. Henderson was named as the first president.
It was also in 1982 that the sun was chosen through a local contest as the SJC mascot.
The logo and the school colors have gone through a few revisions since 1982. Still, the sun has remained the official mascot, and now, with his infectious enthusiasm and energetic presence, Blaze is an official and exciting part of campus life.
How Blaze Got His Name
A naming contest was held to prepare for the new mascot debuting in late spring 2023. This was not just any naming contest. This contest was open to the entire San Juan College community – students, employees, donors, families, neighbors and anyone who wanted to be a part of San Juan College history.
With only a silhouette of the mascot and a list of the mascot’s characteristics, the naming contest campaign was introduced. More than 300 name submissions were received, and the top name suggestions were compiled - Apollo, Blaze, Fuego, Ray and Sol. Over 650 students, employees and community members voted on the mascot’s name from the top five names. After a highly anticipated Spirit Week leading up to the mascot’s debut, Blaze made his fiery appearance at San Juan College.
Marcus Clyde was announced as the naming contest winner, with the name Blaze. Clyde is a student at San Juan College, as are both of his daughters. All three of them graduated in May, each with an associate degree. His daughters also earned their high school diplomas
from San Juan College High School.
