For More Information Contact:
Catherine Durland (845) 486-2133
Poughkeepsie, New York: A naturalization ceremony will take place on Friday, December 6, 2019 at 2 p.m. at the Bardavon 1869 Opera House, 35 Market Street, Poughkeepsie, New York. Dutchess County Clerk Bradford H. Kendall will administer the Oath of Allegiance to approximately two hundred individuals. The Honorable Peter M. Forman, Acting New York State Supreme Court Justice and Dutchess County Court Judge will preside over the ceremony. Jessica O. Matthews, Founder and CEO of Uncharted Power an award-winning, full-service power and data infrastructure company, will deliver the keynote address. A dual citizen of Nigeria and the U.S., Ms. Matthews has a degree is Psychology and Economics from Harvard University, an MBA from Harvard Business School, and is listed on over 10 patents and patents pending. Opening remarks will be made by Chris Silva, Executive Director for the Bardavon 1869 Opera House and musical accompaniment will be provided by Agueda Fernández Abad.
Naturalization is the process by which U.S. citizenship is conferred upon a foreign citizen or national after he or she fulfills the requirements established by Congress in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). The bureau of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) processes all naturalization applications and provides the clerk’s office with a list of the candidates selected to be naturalized. All petitioners must then participate in a Naturalization Ceremony and swear to the Oath of Allegiance in a formal court proceeding.
The Dutchess County Clerk’s Office is honored to take part in the final step of the naturalization process. In Dutchess County, naturalization ceremonies are held bi-monthly to induct new citizens of the United States of America and are open to the public with all invited to attend. For further information about the ceremony or other programs of the Dutchess County Clerk’s Office, please call (845) 486-2133.
