Special Naturalization Ceremony at Highland Park High School

People gather in the Highland Park High School auditorium during the Special Naturalization Ceremony on Tuesday, May 17, 2016.  (Mark Ukena/Pioneer Press)

Supervisory Immigration Services Officer Lisa Mahmood speaks to everyone that is becoming a citizen of the United States of America on Tuesday, May 17, 2016 during the Special Naturalization Ceremony at Highland Park High School.  (Mark Ukena/Pioneer Press)

Supervisory Immigration Services Officer Lisa Mahmood (right) introduces all the speakers during the Special Naturalization Ceremony on Tuesday, May 17, 2016 at Highland Park High School.  (Mark Ukena/Pioneer Press)

Presentation of Colors with VFW Highland Park, Post 4737, William A. Frangquist (left) and Steve Skoropad (right) during the Special Naturalization Ceremony on Tuesday, May 17, 2016 at Highland Park High School.  (Mark Ukena/Pioneer Press)

Highland Park student, Noah Jordan Cott, sings the national Anthem during the Special Naturalization Ceremony on Tuesday, May 17, 2016 at Highland Park High School.  (Mark Ukena/Pioneer Press)

Highland Park student, Noah Jordan Cott (right), sings the national Anthem during the Special Naturalization Ceremony on Tuesday, May 17, 2016 at Highland Park High School.  (Mark Ukena/Pioneer Press)

Highland Park student, Noah Jordan Cott (right), sings the national Anthem during the Special Naturalization Ceremony on Tuesday, May 17, 2016 at Highland Park High School.  (Mark Ukena/Pioneer Press)

New Citizens of the United States of America watch a video of President Barack Obama welcoming them as citizens during the Special Naturalization Ceremony on Tuesday, May 17, 2016 at Highland Park High School.  (Mark Ukena/Pioneer Press)

New Citizens of the United States of America watch a video of President Barack Obama welcoming them as citizens during the Special Naturalization Ceremony on Tuesday, May 17, 2016 at Highland Park High School.  (Mark Ukena/Pioneer Press)

Supervisory Immigration Services Officer Lisa Mahmood welcomes all the new citizens of the United States of America on Tuesday, May 17, 2016 during the Special Naturalization Ceremony at Highland Park High School.  (Mark Ukena/Pioneer Press)

District Director, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, Dr. Thomas Cioppa, roll calls the Nations during the Special Naturalization Ceremony on Tuesday, May 17, 2016 at Highland Park High School.  (Mark Ukena/Pioneer Press)

Associate District Counsel Nicole Flores (right) introduces U.S. District Court Judge Samuel Der-Yeghiayan (left) during the Special Naturalization Ceremony on Tuesday, May 17, 2016 at Highland Park High School.  (Mark Ukena/Pioneer Press)

U.S. District Court Judge Samuel Der-Yeghiayan administrates the Oath of Allegiance to all the new Citizens of the United States of America, during the Special Naturalization Ceremony on Tuesday, May 17, 2016 at Highland Park High School.  (Mark Ukena/Pioneer Press)

U.S. District Court Judge Samuel Der-Yeghiayan administrates the Oath of Allegiance to all the new Citizens of the United States of America, during the Special Naturalization Ceremony on Tuesday, May 17, 2016 at Highland Park High School.  (Mark Ukena/Pioneer Press)

New Citizens of the United States of America complete their Oath of Allegiance during the Special Naturalization Ceremony on Tuesday, May 17, 2016 at Highland Park High School.  (Mark Ukena/Pioneer Press)

New Citizens of the United States of America complete their Oath of Allegiance during the Special Naturalization Ceremony on Tuesday, May 17, 2016 at Highland Park High School.  (Mark Ukena/Pioneer Press)

Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering congratulates and welcomes all the new Citizens of the United States of America to our blessed nation, during the Special Naturalization Ceremony on Tuesday, May 17, 2016 at Highland Park High School.  (Mark Ukena/Pioneer Press)

Highland Park High School Principal Dr. Thomas J. Koulentes, congratulates all the new Citizens of the United States of America to our blessed nation, during the Special Naturalization Ceremony on Tuesday, May 17, 2016 at Highland Park High School.  (Mark Ukena/Pioneer Press)

New Citizens of the United States of America receive their certificate of Citizenship and shake hands with all the speakers of the Special Naturalization Ceremony on Tuesday, May 17, 2016 at Highland Park High School.  (Mark Ukena/Pioneer Press)

New Citizens of the United States of America receive their certificate of Citizenship and shake hands with all the speakers of the Special Naturalization Ceremony on Tuesday, May 17, 2016 at Highland Park High School.  (Mark Ukena/Pioneer Press)

New Citizens of the United States of America receive their certificate of Citizenship and shake hands with all the speakers of the Special Naturalization Ceremony on Tuesday, May 17, 2016 at Highland Park High School.  (Mark Ukena/Pioneer Press)

The Highland Park High School students that helped make this happen were thanked as well as the speakers, during the Special Naturalization Ceremony on Tuesday, May 17, 2016 at Highland Park High School.  (Mark Ukena/Pioneer Press)

The Highland Park High School students that helped make this happen were thanked as well as the speakers, during the Special Naturalization Ceremony on Tuesday, May 17, 2016 at Highland Park High School.  (Mark Ukena/Pioneer Press)

Supervisory Immigration Services Officer Lisa Mahmood gives her best wishes to all the new Citizen of the United States of America during the closing part of the Special Naturalization Ceremony on Tuesday, May 17, 2016 at Highland Park High School.  (Mark Ukena/Pioneer Press)

Jelena Rupa of Arlington Heights, talks about how happy she is now that she's officially a United States Citizen, just after the Special Naturalization Ceremony on Tuesday, May 17, 2016 at Highland Park High School.  (Mark Ukena/Pioneer Press)

Jelena Rupa of Arlington Heights, talks about how happy she is now that she's officially a United States Citizen, just after the Special Naturalization Ceremony on Tuesday, May 17, 2016 at Highland Park High School.  (Mark Ukena/Pioneer Press)

New Citizens of the United States take photos with U.S. District Court Judge Samuel Der-Yeghiayan, just after the Special Naturalization Ceremony on Tuesday, May 17, 2016 at Highland Park High School.  (Mark Ukena/Pioneer Press)

New Citizens of the United States sign up as registered voters now that they're officially Citizens, just after the Special Naturalization Ceremony on Tuesday, May 17, 2016 at Highland Park High School.  (Mark Ukena/Pioneer Press)