![Maria stands in front of classmates](https://live-pellissippi-state-community-college.pantheonsite.io/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Maria-300x200.jpg)
After years of hard work and dedication, Maria Ortiz Quiñones, a first-year student majoring in Nursing at Pellissippi State, has been sworn in as an American citizen.
“Seven years ago, I left my country and came to America as a refugee,” shares Maria, who was born in Colombia. “I left everything behind. It was hard to leave my family, my country and my hometown to start a new journey here, but I made it!”
Typically friends and family celebrate with new citizens at a naturalization ceremony, a formal event that includes taking the oath, patriotic music and a call of countries. Due to COVID-19, however, these naturalization ceremonies have been cancelled or significantly shortened.
When Pellissippi State Associate Professor Lora Bagwell found out that Maria would not get to experience a naturalization ceremony, she decided to host one for her at the College.
“I said, “We’re going to have to do something about that,’” recalls Bagwell. “That’s too big of a deal to not celebrate!”
Bagwell thought that this milestone deserved acknowledgement, so she planned a small in-class celebration for Maria on Tuesday, Feb. 1. Students in both Bagwell’s College Success and her Academic and Personal Reading classes were invited.
![Maria stands next to professor Bagwell](https://live-pellissippi-state-community-college.pantheonsite.io/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/0I2A5707-300x200.jpg)
Bagwell talks to her students almost daily about developing grit and a growth mindset, using examples such as Michael Jordan, Inky Johnson and Olympia LePoint. “Now we have our own example,” says Bagwell. “Maria’s process to become a citizen started in 2015, and she’s had to remain gritty and maintain a growth mindset in order to accomplish this.”
During the in-class ceremony, Maria shared her story about becoming a U.S. citizen. She expressed how thankful she is for the people who helped her learn the things she needed to survive and be successful in America – things like how to get her driver’s license.
“Through this process, I met a lot of people who helped me be strong and learn a lot of new things,” Maria explains. “I’m so happy for everything I have today and every single person that I met during the process.”
Please join us in congratulating Maria on this incredible accomplishment! We are proud of her and her dedication. Maria is truly #PellissippiStrong!