MARCH 26, 2013

Boston College welcomed 94 new American citizens at a Naturalization Ceremony hosted by Boston College Graduate School of Social Work on March 21, 2013.

U.S. District Court Judge George A. O’Toole, Jr. '69, P'11'09, presided at the ceremony, and the Invocation was given by Terrence P. Devino, S.J., Vice President and University Secretary of Boston College, and Chair of the Boston College Sesquicentennial Celebration.

Remarks were made by William P. Leahy, S.J., President of Boston College; Alberto Godenzi, Dean of the Boston College Graduate School of Social Work; and Westy Egmont, Director of the Immigrant Integration Lab at Boston College Graduate School of Social Work.

Also participating in the ceremony were Samantha Stoutenburg, Clerk, Office of U.S. District Court; Denis Riordan, Director, USCIS District 1, U.S. Citizens and Immigration Services; and Kudzai Taziva, Vice President of the Undergraduate Government of Boston College. President Barack Obama offered video remarks and congratulations to the new citizens. Boston College's ROTC and student musical group BC bOp! also participated in the ceremony.

Dean Godenzi spoke with the Boston College Chronicle about why hosting a Naturalization Ceremony is a great fit for GSSW. "Social work is all about inclusion and empowerment. There is something unique about experiencing this moment, when people from all walks of life collectively embrace the values of the nation. We wanted to bring this ceremony to BC to be witnessed by the students, faculty, and staff of Boston College."

Watch the highlight video of the ceremony and reception »
See the slideshow from the Boston Globe »
Read "BC Freshman Happy to Be Among Newest US Citizens" from the Boston College Chronicle »
Watch the video, "Fellow Citizen" »
Event program and official event webpage »