U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) presented 51 citizenship candidates originating from 24 countries to the New York Supreme Court at a ceremony at the Minerva DeLand School on April 25. Brooks Hill fifth-grade classes sponsored the event. Students participated in the event, performing in the chorus and reading essays about citizenship.
The event began with Honorable Daniel J. Doyle providing opening remarks. He was followed by welcome speeches from Brooks Hill Principal Meredith Klus and Fairport Superintendent Brett Provenzano. Deputy County Executive Thomas VanStrydonck then addressed the students and citizenship candidates.
“When you ate breakfast this morning, you were Afghani, you where Chinese, you were Pakistani. Today, when you have lunch, you will be American,” said VanStrydonck to the citizenship candidates.
The fifth-grade chorus then performed “How I Love My America.”
A motion was then made by a USCIS officer, followed by the administration of oaths from Monroe County Clerk Adam Bello, making the citizenship candidates official US citizens.
It was then time for the Brooks Hill fifth-graders to shine once again. Five students had an opportunity to read essays written for the event. Andrew Balsamo, Yuxin Ou, Ella Pendry, Emerson Schaeber and Hosai Sultani shared their work which included favorite features of the United States, personal stories of immigration and well wishes for the new American citizens.
The room of American citizens then recited the Pledge of Allegiance and sang “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
The presentation of certificates of citizenship came next and the entire event was wrapped up with a final performance from the fifth-grade chorus of “God Bless America.”