A naturalization ceremony was held at the Hinckley Center on Wednesday, Nov. 5.
Lance Kingdon moved from Australia to the United States 20 years ago and finally became a citizen.
"America is the greatest country on the planet,” Kingdon said. “It's as simple as that. If you actually get out there and travel around and look, America is the greatest country on the planet. So being part of that, contributing to that and making it a greater place, that's all I want to do."
He is just one of 73 people from 37 countries that became citizens right here on BYU campus. These new citizens are from places like Japan, Madagascar, Nepal, Bulgaria, Burma, Canada, Denmark, Greece, South Korea and so many more.
BYU worked with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Office to put on the event, which was directed by the Field Office Director at the Salt Lake City Office of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Office, Michael Crabtree, with words from Congressman Mike Kennedy and Vice President of Belonging Carl Hernandez.
"We find common purpose in the belief that every person deserves freedom, opportunity and fairness before the law,” Representative Kennedy said. “The oath you take today is a sacred vow and commitment to that constitution and to each other."
Hannah Jones has helped put together the last 3 naturalization ceremonies on campus and cries every time.
"I always say, ‘oh I get used to it, I'm not gonna cry. I'm not going to feel emotional,’ and then whenever I hear a story about someone's father passing away or their wife on their deathbed saying go and become an American citizen, I can't stop it. I just to get teary eyed,” Jones said.
Mireya Espinoza Ortiz is from Mexico and also became a citizen after living in the United States for the last five years.
"I feel very patriotic," she said.
Ortiz said her favorite part of the United States is the diversity.
Throughout the ceremony the new citizens were not only congratulated, but also reminded of the new responsibility they have to get engaged.
"I would just encourage you to continue to give back to your communities and thank you for becoming American citizens today and making us a better country,” Crabtree said.