Published: 11/16/2012 - Updated: 6 months ago

Naturalization Ceremony at Waite High School

31 People become U.S. citizens in a naturalization ceremony Nov. 16, 2012, at Waite High School in Toledo.

Karen Berman, assistant principal at Waite High, speaks about her move from Jamaica to the U.S. as a young child to the new citizens. 31 People become U.S. citizens in a naturalization ceremony at Waite High School in Toledo.

Enlarge | Buy This Photo Karen Berman, assistant principal at Waite High, speaks about her move from Jamaica to the U.S. as a young ... THE BLADE/JETTA FRASER

Making the Pledge of Allegiance are, from left, Deborah Ihuoma Arowolo, formerly of Nigeria; Ali Mohammed Awwad (cq), formerly of Jordan; Fatuma Ibrahim Barqadle, formerly of Somalia; Veronica Gloria Benitez, formerly of Mexico; and Natalia Olegovna Connolly, formerly of Russia.

Enlarge | Buy This Photo Making the Pledge of Allegiance are, from left, Deborah Ihuoma Arowolo, formerly of Nigeria; Ali Mohammed Awwad (cq), formerly of ... THE BLADE/JETTA FRASER

Alex Garcia, 4, left, his brother Miguel, 6, and dad Inocencio Garcia, all of Ney, Ohio after the ceremony. Inocencio became a citizen during the proceedings.

Enlarge | Buy This Photo Alex Garcia, 4, left, his brother Miguel, 6, and dad Inocencio Garcia, all of Ney, Ohio after the ceremony. Inocencio ... THE BLADE/JETTA FRASER

Enlarge | Buy This Photo Leading the new citizens in the Pledge of Allegiance is Waite High School student leader Candice Patterson. THE BLADE/JETTA FRASER

Nick, 8, his sister Vanisa, 5, and their mom Sompasith Sinthalaphone, formerly of Laos, after the ceremony. They live in Lima.

Enlarge | Buy This Photo Nick, 8, his sister Vanisa, 5, and their mom Sompasith Sinthalaphone, formerly of Laos, after the ceremony. They live in ... THE BLADE/JETTA FRASER

Enlarge | Buy This Photo Rami Albadour, 3, and his mom Suzan Dahmous, formerly of Jordan, after the ceremony. THE BLADE/JETTA FRASER

Enlarge | Buy This Photo Fatuma Ibrahim Barqadle, of Somalia, left, is helped down the steps by Annie Crawford, federal court clerk. THE BLADE/JETTA FRASER

Judge Jack Zouhary congratulates Audrey Aleksandrovich Mikhaylov, formerly of Russia, on his citizenship. At right is Karen Berman, assistant principal at Waite High.

Enlarge | Buy This Photo Judge Jack Zouhary congratulates Audrey Aleksandrovich Mikhaylov, formerly of Russia, on his citizenship. At right is Karen Berman, assistant principal ... THE BLADE/JETTA FRASER

Enlarge | Buy This Photo Audrey Aleksandrovich Mikhaylov, of Russia, left, is helped down the steps by his son-in-law Aleksey Syrnichenko. THE BLADE/JETTA FRASER

Christian Vaflor, 15, of Marion, Ohio, was in attendance to watch his grandmother, Ednita Vaflor, become a citizen. She was from the Philippines.

Enlarge | Buy This Photo Christian Vaflor, 15, of Marion, Ohio, was in attendance to watch his grandmother, Ednita Vaflor, become a citizen. She was ... THE BLADE/JETTA FRASER

Naturalization Ceremony at Waite High School

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