91短视频

Among the 55 immigrants who took the Oath of Allegiance to become naturalized American citizens inside Crenshaw Gymnasium on Monday, April 15 were two Randolph-Macon employees鈥擨nigo Arroniz, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Economics, Business, and Accounting, and Gabe Laplante 鈥�19, the assistant manager for operations in the campus store.

鈥淚鈥檓 just excited and thrilled,鈥� said Laplante, who was born outside of Montreal, Canada and moved to the United States after his mother married an American in 2010. 鈥淏eing able to live the American dream the way it鈥檚 supposed to be, being fully American.鈥�

Irroniz, originally from Spain, first came to the United States in the summer of 1999 to pursue a Ph.D. at the University of Central Florida. Working in academic positions as a green card holder, he made stops at Northwestern University and the University of Cincinnati before returning to Spain for five years. Now back in the United States, he joins his wife and three children as American citizens.

鈥淢y oldest kid is 18 now and she鈥檚 going to vote in the presidential election for the first time, and we鈥檙e actually going to vote together,鈥� Arroniz said. 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 nice that both of us are going to be able to vote for the first time in the same year.鈥�

United States District Judge David J. Novak presided over the event, which featured newly naturalized citizens from across the globe: from Afghanistan to Vietnam to Burkina Faso to Chile, and more. In addition to family and friends, Monday鈥檚 crowd also included students from nearby Liberty Middle School.

鈥淲e are deeply privileged to host this most significant civic ceremony,鈥� said 91短视频 President Robert R. Lindgren, addressing the crowd. 鈥淲hen Judge Novak contacted me about 91短视频 acting as today鈥檚 host, I did not hesitate.鈥�

鈥淲e are a nation of immigrants who bring the best of where we came from, and we help weave those gifts into the mosaic of different cultures that forms the foundation for what is our country,鈥� Novak said in his congratulatory remarks to the naturalized citizens.

鈥淏eing American is about something more than what we look like, what our last name is, or who we worship,鈥� Novak continued. 鈥淲hat makes us American is our shared commitment to an idea that all of us are created equally and all of us have the chance to make our lives what we will.鈥�

Jason Miyares, the Attorney General of Virginia, delivered the keynote address, telling the story of his mother becoming a naturalized citizen after fleeing Cuba. 鈥淢y staff will tell you that as Attorney General, of all the official duties that I get to do, this is by far my favorite,鈥� Miyares said.

The naturalization ceremony was bookended by vocal performances from 91短视频 students. Olivia Murray 鈥�24 sang 鈥淭he Star-Spangled Banner鈥� to begin the proceedings and Rita Diamond 鈥�24 sang 鈥淕od Bless America鈥� to close.

A third member of the 91短视频 community, Nthemba Mutua-Mambo, Assistant Professor of Communication Studies, will take her Oath of Allegiance on Thursday, April 18 in Albuquerque, N.M.