University of Findlay Welcomes New U.S. Citizens
Nearly 60 people and their families gathered Thursday, April 18 for a naturalization ceremony at University of Findlay. During the event, 32 countries were represented by individuals who took an oath and received certificates of citizenship.
The Honorable Judge James R Knepp II of the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio, presided over the ceremony and delivered the oath of citizenship. He stressed the importance of being a U.S. citizen and challenged the new citizens. “I call upon you to rise to the challenge to participate fully, to respect and hold sacred the power, privilege, and responsibility that you all now share fully as American citizens,” he said.
Among the new citizens was Tatiana Draguta of Moldova. Draguta and her husband have been living in the United States for the past six years, working toward receiving their citizenship. “I never thought about citizenship so seriously until we started the process,” she said. “I never stopped to think how much this really means. I’m really excited for this opportunity to live the rest of my life as an American citizen!” Currently living in Perrysburg, Tatiana and her U.S.-born children are all U.S. citizens following Thursday’s ceremony. Her husband will go through a similar naturalization ceremony in the coming weeks, where he too, will become an American citizen.
Students from area high schools participated in the event, playing music during the ceremony and giving speeches to new citizens during the ceremony. Carson Skulina, a senior at Cory-Rawson High School, encouraged the new citizens to take in the moment. “In just over a month, I will walk across the stage at my graduation to receive my diploma. For me, that marks the end of one chapter of my life and the beginning of something completely new. For all of you, that event happens today and will affect your life forever.” Skulina’s message got through to Tatiana, who said, “I feel like have to take my life more seriously. I’m an American now!”
A recording of the ceremony is available on Pulse TV’s YouTube channel.
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