Twenty-eight new U.S. citizens naturalized at 10th annual ceremony
Oct. 19—On Thursday, Twin Peaks Classical Academy in Longmont brought together a handful of people from around the world as they celebrated their newfound U.S. citizenship.
The ceremony granted certificates of naturalization to 28 new citizens from 13 countries: Argentina, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, El Salvador, Germany, Guatemala, Mexico, Nepal, the Philippines, Russia, Senegal, Spain, the U.K. and Vietnam.
"We hope that you bring the unique things about you and where you came from and share those with all of us," said Andy Lambrecht, director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Denver Field Office, to the new citizens. "Because that is what makes this country so amazing."
Twin Peaks history teacher Jennifer Whitmer said the school holds the event to show students — particularly eighth graders who are learning about the U.S. government — how important the ceremony is for people receiving their citizenship.
"We do parts of the citizenship test and look at it to see that this is challenging, and worth people's effort to go through it," Whitmer said. "I think (students) don't take for granted their citizenship as much, realizing the struggle that other people have gone through to get to be here today."
Clara Pressey, a senior and president of the National Honor Society at Twin Peaks, said the ceremony helps put "human faces" to the civic processes students learn about in class.
"I think it's wonderful that we have it here at the school because of how important it is to honor the effort that people have made and the commitment that they're making," Pressey said. "It's a fundamental part of our democracy."
During the ceremony, two Twin Peaks teachers spoke about their own citizenship journeys. Spanish teacher Carla Puky shared her experience growing up in Venezuela and her eventual naturalization at Twin Peaks in 2019.
"The path to citizenship, once in the United States, was not an easy one," Puky said. "Nevertheless, there is nothing that I would change about it. I believe that all experiences leading to my naturalization helped me appreciate the privilege and responsibility even more."
English teacher George McAusland, from the U.K., became a U.S. citizen earlier this year. He said it wouldn't have been possible without sponsorship from his wife's family, who fled Vietnam in the aftermath of the Vietnam War.
"The United States has so much to be proud of," McAusland said, "but I think our country ought to be most proud of the fact that so many people choose to come here to find a new home."
The ceremony also included the national anthem and "America the Beautiful" sung by Twin Peaks choir members, a video address from President Joe Biden and the Oath of Allegiance led by Lambrecht. Lambrecht also thanked Twin Peaks for its decade of supporting the ceremony.
Luis Duarte, a Denver resident originally from Mexico, said he went through the naturalization process to be able to vote and to give citizenship to his Mexican-born son.
"It's been about 15 years of me living in the country with different types of visas," Duarte said. "...I'm very emotional. It feels great."
Anton Pavlov, originally from Russia, came to Thursday's ceremony from his home in Louisville. Pavlov and his family moved to the U.S. five years ago, and he said it's taken that long to become a citizen; his wife also celebrated her naturalization two weeks ago.
"The whole process, it's not easy, especially when you're moving from another country and you're leaving everything there," Pavlov said. "But we're good. We found a new life here."
