UToledo Faculty, Staff Celebrate U.S. Citizenship at UToledo Ceremony

UToledo Faculty, Staff Celebrate U.S. Citizenship at UToledo Ceremony

The University of Toledo College of Law hosted a naturalization ceremony on Friday, Sept. 12, celebrating 38 new citizens of the United States.

Among the new citizens were UToledo's Dr. Patrick and Nancy Lawrence. He's a professor and chair of the Department of Geography and Planning, and she's an admission analyst in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

They and their young family left Waterloo, Ontario, for Toledo in 2000.

"The United States is our home," said Patrick Lawrence, who catalyzed the move when he accepted a job as an assistant professor at UToledo. "We've been putting down roots here for 25 years. Our children grew up here, and we plan to retire here. It just makes sense for us to now take this step and become citizens."

Their son, Matthew, who graduated from UToledo in 2018, was naturalized in a ceremony earlier this summer in Michigan. Meanwhile their daughter, Anna, who graduated in 2024, joined the family after their move and enjoys birthright citizenship.

The family planned to celebrate over lunch with friends following the ceremony.

Judge Jack Zouhary of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio presided over a ceremony featuring guest speakers and music provided by the UToledo Chamber Singers. Zouhary shook hands with each new citizen, including Carmelina Bernier.

Natthakorn Heilman was among the new citizens who celebrated her new status by waving a U.S. flag.