Harvard Business School

Harvard Business School Hosts Naturalization Ceremony for 147 New U.S. Citizens

Last week, Harvard Business School hosted a naturalization ceremony for 147 immigrants who were sworn in as United States citizens.

Individuals from 48 different countries took their oath of citizenship during the ceremony, which included remarks from HBS Dean Srikant M. Datar and Massachusetts District Judge Denise J. Casper, The Harvard Crimson reports.

REMARKS FROM HBS DEAN

“I understand this journey well,” Datar, who immigrated to the U.S. from India, said. “I know the unwavering determination required, the steady commitment, and the courage.”

During his remark, Datar highlighted the diverse talent of students and faculty at HBS who have helped shape his appreciation for the valuable contributions that immigrants bring to American society.

“Many of the most successful and innovative businesses in this country have been launched by immigrants or their descendants,” Datar said. “You, too, will contribute your talent and skills to the continued growth and prosperity of our nation.”

“Your journey is a testimony to the entrepreneurial spirit that has long defined the American dream,” he added.

THE SYMBOL OF HBS

Harvard Business School is globally renowned for its prestige and international reach. Attendees noted that the ceremony’s location at HBS held special significance for the moment.

“Harvard is a school well known all over the world not only for its history, but for its contributions through history of bringing up people who change the world,” Alsdig P. Bashir, who was naturalized during the ceremony after immigrating to the U.S. from Sudan 15 years ago, said. “I always dreamt of me being at Harvard.”

“A ceremony here recognizes, as the dean mentioned, the impact that immigrants have in our country, in our economy, and in our communities,” said Denis C. Riordan, a district director for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and one of the event’s organizers.

Sources: The Harvard Crimson, The Harvard Gazette