Julie McCombs
Sandra Rivera became a naturalized citizen Friday in a ceremony at Buena Vista Elementary School. Dick Pierce, right, helped mentor her during the process.
Julie McCombs
Emma Hudson helped her father, Andrew, from Manchester, England become a U.S. citizen last year.
Julie McCombs
There were smiles all around from the new U.S. citizens.
Emma Hudson and her fifth grade classmates at Buena Vista Elementary witnessed the naturalization ceremony for approximately 30 new United States citizens Friday morning.
Hudson eloquently articulated what it was like watching her father work through the process and participate in the ceremony. Andrew Hudson, Emma’s father from Manchester, England, became a U.S. citizen last year.
“I was very proud of him, “ Hudson said of her father. “He was very nervous but excited during the ceremony.”
The naturalization process can take years for some plus the interview that leads into the ceremony.
Emma said she and her brother, Ryan, helped their father. “He knew most of it. I wanted to teach him about our country, how great it was and lucky to be a United States citizen,” she said.
As the candidates participated in the 45-minute program Friday, Hudson and classmates sat and watched intently as the Buena Vista Boy Scouts presented the colors and the school’s fifth grade chorus sang the national anthem. Brenda Washington, immigration services officer, made the call of the countries of the soon-to-be citizens, and Ann Jordan-Starks, supervisory immigration services officer, administered the Oath of Allegiance, Pledge of Allegiance and presentation of certificates with David Sisk, immigration services officer, both from the Greer-based office.
Cindy Watson, 5th grade teacher, helped drive the process that awarded the school a grant for the naturalization ceremony. It was only the second elementary school in the state awarded to host the ceremony, according to Sisk.
“The students studied the (naturalization process) and wanted to do it because some of their parents may have been immigrants,” Watson said. “They practiced the ceremony, too.”
Sandra Rivera, a grandmother of two, became a naturalized citizen because of them. “I’m very happy and very proud,” Rivera said of the two-year achievement.