100 people become U.S. citizens

Stetson University will welcome 100 applicants for U.S. citizenship on Tuesday, Oct. 18, during a Naturalization Ceremony being hosted on campus in partnership with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

The ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. at Lee Chapel inside Elizabeth Hall, 421 N. Woodland Blvd., DeLand, with a reception following in the Quad. The special event is free and open to the public.

Taking the Oath of Allegiance to the United States before their friends, families and other witnesses, the individuals come from 40 countries around the world including Argentina, Bangladesh, Belize, Brazil, Canada, Cayman Islands, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Lithuania, Mexico, Morocco, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Russia, Syria, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam and Zambia.

James C. Fletcher, deputy director of the Orlando Field Office for the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, will present the candidates, and Field Office Director Margaret Iglesias will administer the Oath of Allegiance. A video presentation with a message from President Barack Obama will be shown.

Music Professor Dr. Boyd Jones, the university organist, will perform variations on America by Charles Ives to begin the ceremony. The National Anthem will be led by School of Music student Elizabeth Galafa, who will also sing America the Beautiful.

Political Science Professor Dr. T. Wayne Bailey, who has been instrumental in bringing the emotionally moving Naturalization Ceremonies to Stetson, will welcome the guests. This will be the fourth such ceremony at Stetson, with the last being in 2007.

Stetson Board of Trustees Chair Harlan L. Paul will make congratulatory remarks, and English Professor Dr. Jamil Khader will lead the Pledge of Allegiance. The colors will be presented by the Stetson ROTC Color Guard.