By: Jacob Kessler
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
The Fulton County Court House hosted a Naturalization Ceremony on Thursday, September 28th. At the conclusion of the ceremony 24 people were officially granted the title of United States Citizens. These individuals were naturalized from approximately 19 different countries including Canada, the United Kingdom, China, Russia, Yemen, and Syria.
The ceremony was presided over by the Honorable Judge Jack Zouhary. At the events beginning, Wauseon High School Students Brody Rodriguez and Skylar William performed the song America The Beautiful, before WHS student Shawn Robinson led the opening of the ceremony.
Fulton County Common Pleas Court Judge Scott Haselman was then introduced and gave welcoming remarks.
Fulton County Court Administrator Jessica Reyes then shared a personal story before all new citizens were led in the Oath of Citizenship.
WHS students Cameron Hunter and Landon O’Dell next led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance before the Wauseon Chorale sang the National Anthem.
U.S. Senior District Court Judge Jack Zouhary then gave a few more remarks before each of the new citizens were presented with their certificates by USCIS Officer Tristan Bourdess.
The individuals who gained their citizenship that day are as follows. Elisa Quirona Tamayo, Jesse Tamayo, Kristine Ngo, Kok Siang Matthews-Ng, Mwaffaq Tawfiq Almoraise, Merete Lid Campbell, Sudhakar Naidu Pangulur, Cynthia Patricia Stoutt, Anthony Donovan Cook, Helena Mel Aman Chloe Toee, Naeem Mahfooz, Eliza Duenas Fuller, Marina Ballatin, Lisa Erin Denning, Paula Marcela Disanza, Lukas Jachno, Omar Maarouf El Tawil, Daniel Romeo St-Jean, Fares Salman, Zhiping Thomson, Sandrine Lum, Matthew Dwight Guttridge, Blair Michael Hayward, Dao Kim Quach.
Jacob can be reached at jacob@thevillagereporter.com