FAYETTEVILLE — Seventy Sonora Middle School students learned about culture and citizenship Friday during a naturalization ceremony.
At A Glance
Naturalization Process
After gaining permanent residency, also known as a green card, immigrants generally have to wait five years before applying for citizenship. They then have to study U.S. history and government before taking a 100-question test with a written portion.
Source: Staff Report
The fifth-floor courtroom in the Federal Building was crowded. Thirty-six new American citizens were seated in the audience section. Choir and English as a second language students sat on the floor around the jury seats and defendant’s table. Students in Sonora’s seventh-grade girls honor choir sang the Star Spangled Banner while the other students watched.
Students at Sonora are learning about heritage, culture and accepting others as part of Common Core standards, said Charlene Hornor, sixth-grade literacy and social studies teacher. Every sixth-grader in Springdale is expected to do research on immigration and learn about the challenges immigrants face.
Administrators took the students to the ceremony to help them make a real world connection with what they are learning, said Shawna Lyons, principal. It’s important for people to remember where they came from.
At A Glance
Countries Represented
Those participating in Friday’s naturalization ceremony are from:
• Mexico
• El Salvador
• Vietnam
• Jordan
• Russia
• Saudi Arabia
• India
• Guatemala
• Philippines
• Italy
• Brazil
• Bangladesh
• Bulgaria
• Ecuador
• Uzbekistan
Source: Staff Report
“We want them to walk away with a deep understanding of culture,” she said.
Emlina Lewis, a sixth-grader, said seeing the ceremony will help her understand what she is learning in class about citizenship.
It’s difficult for many people to understand the naturalization process or the ceremony without witnessing one, said Erin Setser, federal magistrate. Setser has presided over three naturalization ceremonies, including Friday’s. Many people who were born in the U.S. take their citizenship for granted, and it’s something that should be valued.
“Actually seeing a ceremony means so much more to these students,” she said.
Maria Stowe, a seventh-grade choir member, said she was excited to sing at the ceremony. She liked that she got to welcome people to the country as U.S. citizens.
“This is an important day for them,” she said.
Setser took all 70 students through the courtroom and to her office after the ceremony. She spoke to them about the ceremony, how the court works, how she got where she is in her career and the importance of staying in school.
“You have the whole world ahead of you,” she said. “You have so much opportunity. You just have to take advantage of it.”