The packed school auditorium temporarialy became a federal courthouse as U.S. Magistrate Judge Daniel Stewart presided over the ceremony. Stewart said there is no more enjoyable event for him than a naturalization ceremony.

“I try to do these events in schools as much as I can,” he added.

Saranac Lake High School students led the pledge, the High School Concert Choir sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” and the kids cheered for each new citizen.

“With the taking of the Oath of Citizenship, each of you are about to become part of the (249)-year-old experiment that is based upon equality, diversity, freedom and the right to pursue our own dreams,” Stewart said.

Esmina Cecunjanin, originally from Montenegro, waves her naturalization document officially making her a U.S. citizen on Friday. The ceremony was held at the Saranac Lake High School, where Cecunjanin works in the cafeteria. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

New citizens hailed from Australia, Canada, Columbia, Cuba, France, Germany, Guyana, Haiti, Italy, Kenya, Montenegro, Philippines, Russia, Serbia, South Korea and the United Kingdom.

Naturalization can sometimes be a multi-year process, Judge Stewart said.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, an agency of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, administers naturalization. Green card holders who seek naturalization are required be a long-term resident, be of “good moral character,” to pass a civics test and demonstrate English proficiency.

During their naturalization interview, they must answer at least six questions in a 10-question civics test correctly, with 100 possible questions. A practice test can be found at tinyurl.com/5n7bmf5n. The actual test is not multiple choice, like the practice test is.

Questions and answers include A.) “Before he was President, Eisenhower was a general. What war was he in?” B.) “During the Cold War, what was the main concern of the United States?” or C.) “The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution. Name one of the writers.” Answers to these questions will be included at the bottom of this article.

Josephine Muchilwa, originally from Kenya, grins to her mother, who flew in to Saranac Lake to see Muchilwa be sworn in as a U.S. citizen on Friday. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

Carmen Kingsley said this test was easy for her. She’s a social studies teacher, after all. Others said they had to study quite a bit, as some of the answers are not common knowledge.

Marie Mertz said she studied for a long time and while quizzing her colleagues at work, they said she knew more of the answers than they did.

Maria Lopez said the paperwork was more complicated than the test.

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International stories

Stephen Epstein, originally from Canada, grins as Saranac Lake high school students cheer for him after he was sworn in as a U.S. citizen on Friday. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

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Alice Mahany said she came to America from England on a J-1 visa 11 years ago and now, after marrying her husband EJ, a U.S. citizen, she wants to make it her permanent home.

“I truly believe, if you work hard, success is achievable in the United States,” Mahany said.

Mahany spoke of the differences she encountered when she arrived here.

“One of the first things that stood out to me on my first day in America was the amount of ice that Americans like in their drinks,” she said.

Claribel Pacheco, originally from Cuba, grins as Saranac Lake high school students cheer for her after she was sworn in as a U.S. citizen on Friday. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

There’s other things, like the variety of food at supermarkets, waiters who want your whole life story and American words like “trash” and “diapers.”

When Josephine Muchilwa’s name was called, no one shouted louder than her mother Rachel, who flew from Kenya to see her daughter become a U.S. citizen.

“I’m so happy. I’m so proud,” Rachel said.

Muchilwa said a friend in Kenya suggested she apply for a green card lottery five years ago. She decided to try on a whim and won the lottery.

“I got lucky,” she said. “It’s definitely so much better here than where I come from.”

Vanessa Inocenti, originally from Italy, grins as Saranac Lake high school students cheer for her after she was sworn in as a U.S. citizen on Friday. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

She said there are more opportunities and a higher quality of life here than in Kenya. Muchilwa is a registered nurse in Queensbury with her fiancee Jonathan Barber and son Ty, 11.

Vanessa Inocenti, an actress from Italy, came to the U.S. to study her art — on stage and on film. She’s currently in post-production for a movie and plans to move to New York City soon.

Her husband still lives in Italy. She said after many hard years of living in a long-distance relationship, she is thrilled that he will finally be joining her in America soon. Innocenti said her husband will pursue naturalization, and since he is married to an American citizen, he will be eligible in three years of having a green card instead of the usual five.

Kingsley from Germany has lived here for 30 years. Her family all lives here and her husband is a citizen.

“I’m an import,” she joked.

She said she finally decided to earn her citizenship. Kingsley teaches English as a new language for immigrant students Washington-Saratoga-Warren-Hamilton-Essex BOCES.

“I enjoy very much teaching immigrants, because I’m an immigrant myself,” she said.

Lopez from Canada said after 14 years of living here, she felt the only part missing was her citizenship. She is proud to live in the U.S. and wanted the feeling of belonging that citizenship brings.

Lopez, of Keeseville, said there are also more opportunities, and more jobs as a U.S. citizen. She said the test is easy, if you studied hard for it.

Mertz moved here from France with her husband five years ago and said she’s spent the past four-and-a-half years pursuing citizenship. It’s been a “long journey.”

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Sliding to Lake Placid

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Guest speaker Tyrone Mullins, a former member of the Jamaican bobsled team who now lives in Lake Placid, recalled the “overwhelming joy” he felt at his naturalization ceremony last June. Mullins, a self-described “country boy,” grew up in rural Jamaica. His family did not have television, internet or electricity. He studied by a kerosene lamp at night, saying he knew he wanted to see more of the world and achieve more in life.

Mullins ran track and was fast, but on a island known for its speed, it was hard to stand out. One day, he read about athlete recruitment for the national bobsled team in the newspaper. He made the team and his first time in the United States was for training in Lake Placid.

Now, he’s traveled the world, but said his heart brought him back to the Tri-Lakes. He now lives in Lake Placid with his wife, owns a landscaping business names “Cool Cuttingz” and is a member of the Lake Placid Volunteer Fire Department. He said he could have never dreamed of the life he now has.

“To know that we as a people can come together and be so kind and loving to each other, it just makes my heart so happy,” Mullins said.

He also said the national motto of Jamaica was fitting for the day “Out of many, one people.”

Answers to the questions: A.) World War II, B.) Communism and C.) James Madison, Alexander Hamilton or John Jay.

Tyrone Mullins, of Lake Placid, speaks at a naturalization ceremony on Friday about his experience of traveling from Jamaica with the bobsled team, settling down in Lake Placid and becoming a U.S. citizen last year. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

Veronica Madison, originally from the Philippines, celebrates with her naturalization document after being sworn in as a U.S. citizen on Friday. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

Carmen Kingsley, originally from Germany, celebrates with her naturalization document after being sworn in as a U.S. citizen on Friday. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

Marina Lazarescu, left, originally from Russia, grins as her family snaps of photo of her with her naturalization document after being sworn in as a U.S. citizen on Friday. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

Marie Mertz, originally from France, recites the “Oath of Allegiance” on her way to becoming a U.S. citizen on Friday. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

Alice Mahaney, originally from the United Kingdom, speaks at a naturalization ceremony on Friday about her journey that led her to to become a U.S. citizen. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)