During a naturalization ceremony held on Feb. 24 at Lone Star College-Tomball’s Beckendorf Conference Center, 100 candidates were sworn in as new U.S. citizens.

In a nutshell

This is the third time LSC-Tomball hosted a naturalization ceremony. Previous ceremonies were held on Sept. 17, 2022 and Sept. 15, 2023, according to prior reporting.

According to LSC-Tomball Community Library Director Janna Hoglund, the 100 candidates to be U.S. citizens represented 37 countries, including:

• 10 candidates each from Vietnam and Mexico
• 9 candidates from the Philippines
• 7 candidates each from Colombia and Canada

U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter Bray presided over the naturalization ceremony, which included speakers Tomball Mayor Lori Klein Quinn and Latoya Hardman, the vice president of instruction for LSC-Tomball.

During the ceremony, candidates also recited the pledge of allegiance and the national anthem was sung by Lisa Morales, the chair of the LSC-Tomball music department.

• “Today, you have become part of something great—America,” Quinn said during the ceremony. “And today, America becomes greater and more complete because of all of you.”
• “Preparing for U.S. citizenship requires focus and sacrifice,” Hardman said during the ceremony. “And for many of you, it meant putting other aspects of your life on hold. But today we celebrate because the pause ends, and your step into a world of new opportunities begins.”
• “This is the very first day of your life as a U.S. citizen,” Bray said. “I’m just so proud of you.”