SCRANTON — A group of students in a summer program witnessed immigrants become United States citizens, part of a series of lessons on diversity, citizenship and different cultures.
Young participants in the BUILD program at Scranton Preparatory School and their leaders were among dozens of new citizens, their families and friends who attended a naturalization ceremony Friday afternoon at the William J. Nealon Courthouse and Federal Building.
They watched from the back of the courtroom as U.S. District Judge Joseph F. Saporito Jr. welcomed the 37 new citizens from 15 countries, telling them he and his colleagues on the bench celebrate the diversity they bring to the country.
Saporito recognized the BUILD program participants in his opening remarks, along with members of the League of Women Voters of Wilkes-Barre and multiple chapters of the Daughters of the American Revolution, who assisted during the ceremony.
BUILD participant Leyla Trani, 13, of Scranton, led the Pledge of Allegiance.
The students continued to watch as each person’s name was read and Court Services Manager Kate Toth delivered the oath of citizenship to them.
Following the oath, Alex Potemkin, a freelance photographer who came to the U.S. from Belarus in 2014, said in remarks it is meaningful to live in the United States and he and the other new citizens are proud to live here.
“I came here as a hope for the new beginning and for some opportunities here,” he said. “It’s an incredible country with incredible people and I’m proud to be here.”
The Daughters of the American Revolution hand U.S. flags to new citizens during the Naturalization Ceremony at the William J. Nealon U.S. Federal Building and Courthouse in Scranton on Friday, July 11, 2025. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRPAHER)
Thirty-seven new citizens recite the Oath of Citizenship during the Naturalization Ceremony at the William J. Nealon U.S. Federal Building and Courthouse in Scranton on Friday, July 11, 2025. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRPAHER)
New citizens raise their hand and recite the Oath of Citizenship during the Naturalization Ceremony at the William J. Nealon U.S. Federal Building and Courthouse in Scranton on Friday, July 11, 2025. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRPAHER)
Response speaker Alex Potemkin address the crowd gathered for the Naturalization Ceremony at the William J. Nealon U.S. Federal Building and Courthouse in Scranton on Friday, July 11, 2025. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRPAHER)
Students in the BUILD program stand to be recognized during the Naturalization Ceremony at the William J. Nealon U.S. Federal Building and Courthouse in Scranton on Friday, July 11, 2025. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRPAHER)
Norbelia Gonzalez and her fiancé Frank Pina pose for a photo during the Naturalization Ceremony at the William J. Nealon U.S. Federal Building and Courthouse in Scranton on Friday, July 11, 2025. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRPAHER)
BUILD program participant Leyla Trani leads the courtroom in the Pledge of Alliance during the Naturalization Ceremony at the William J. Nealon U.S. Federal Building and Courthouse in Scranton on Friday, July 11, 2025. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRPAHER)
New citizen Maria Isabel Boyle, left, hugs daughter-in-law Stephanie Griffin after receiving her Certificate of Citizenship during the Naturalization Ceremony at the William J. Nealon U.S. Federal Building and Courthouse in Scranton on Friday, July 11, 2025. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRPAHER)
Norbelia Gonzalez snaps a photo of her fiancé Frank Pina with his Certificate of Citizenship during the Naturalization Ceremony at the William J. Nealon U.S. Federal Building and Courthouse in Scranton on Friday, July 11, 2025. Pina says its a dream come true to become a U.S. citizen. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRPAHER)
Barbara Stanis, 11, hugs her dad Alex Potemkin after he spoke during the Naturalization Ceremony at the William J. Nealon U.S. Federal Building and Courthouse in Scranton on Friday, July 11, 2025. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRPAHER)
Saporito and the other judges participating in the ceremony — U.S. District Judge Karoline Mehalchick, and U.S. Magistrate Judges Phillip Caraballo and Leo Latella — also delivered remarks. In them, they pointed out the diversity the new citizens bring to the country and the hard work it took for them to become citizens, and urged them to get involved in civic life.
Caraballo pointed out that by becoming citizens, they earned the right to vote and serve on a jury, which he said is unique to the United States.
The ceremony concluded with a video slideshow welcoming the citizens to the country and the new citizens receiving naturalization certificates, American flags, voter registration forms and American flag lapel pins.
Attending Friday’s ceremony was the culmination of a week where students in BUILD, a five-week-long educational and leadership summer program for middle school students, learned about diversity and citizenship. The week began with a trip to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty and included lessons that explored different languages and cuisines.
U.S. District Judge Malachy Mannion invited the program members to attend the naturalization ceremony after they toured the courthouse last year, program director Daniel Marx said. He said attending the ceremony was a full-circle experience for the students after visiting Ellis Island on Monday.
Marx said the week allowed them to understand that citizenship is a legal and human journey. He said immigration is something some of the students have experienced firsthand.
“Allowing them to be here and to celebrate the courage and commitment and the culture of these new citizens helps us to feel more a part of our community and more pride in our community,” he said. ” I hope that they take away from today an understanding that America is a place of belonging, that America is constantly being shaped by the people who call it home and that in its diversity it finds its strength.”
Leyla, a rising eighth grader at Scranton’s Northeast Intermediate School, and her fellow participants said they learned that being a United States citizen is a privilege. Julien Leon, 12, of Taylor, said the ceremony showed how much of an honor it is to be a U.S. citizen.
“I think it was awesome and it’s a great way to show how happy they are coming into citizenship,” she said. “It’s an honor to be in this country and you should appreciate it.”