Brockport Annual Naturalization Ceremony

On Wednesday, September 17th, Constitution Day at 11 AM, SUNY Brockport held its Annual Naturalization Ceremony, marking a significant change in the lives of many. The ceremony was held in the Seymour Union Ballroom, where families, staff, and friends gathered around to witness the start of a new journey for some.  

789 candidates have earned their citizenship over the12 12-year period that the Naturalization Ceremony has been held at SUNY Brockport.   On Wednesday, 65 new candidates from over 30 countries, like Jamaica, Bangladesh, Iraq, Brazil, China, Ethiopia, and more, gained their citizenship.  

SUNY Brockport hosts the Naturalization Ceremony, but the majority of the process is handled individually. The Naturalization Ceremony celebrates and recognizes the work the candidates had to do to eventually earn their citizenship status. 

At the beginning of the ceremony, two fellow members of the community, Samuel Robinson and Yezia Negron Vila welcomed and commemorated them on their attempts. Samuel said, “Today, we honor your perseverance and determination. Becoming a citizen of the United States is a lot more work than many of us can fully understand. Being a citizen of the United States is something that many of us take for granted.”  

The Union Ballroom was turned into a miniature courtroom to allow Judge Pedersen from the Western District of New York to officially swear in the candidates.  Before the swearing-in ceremony, Judge Peterson shared a few words of encouragement and acknowledged their path to citizenship.