OCTC student earns U.S. Citizenship

April 28, 2019 | 3:15 am

Updated April 29, 2019 | 6:44 pm

A surprise celebration was held in honor of Bar Jor's successful completion of the U.S. Citizenship test. | Photo submitted to Owensboro Times

Owensboro Community & Technical College (OCTC) student Bar Jor, was overcome with emotion Thursday, April 18 when his Intercultural Communications class, led by OCTC faculty Tammy Rice, held a surprise celebration in honor of his successful completion of the U.S. Citizenship test.

Jor, now 22, came to the United States in 2013 after spending most of his life in a refugee camp in Thailand to flee from the political unrest in his home country of Burma. After growing up in a small village of approximately 35 homes, Bar was thrown into city life in Louisville, Kentucky before moving to Owensboro. He is now a full-time nursing student at Owensboro Community and Technical College.

“We are very proud of Bar and what he has achieved,” said OCTC President, Dr. Scott Williams. “It takes a lot of courage, passion and discipline to earn your citizenship. He has persisted and is still working diligently toward his academic goals.”

After the celebration, Jor was humbled, posting the following message on his Facebook page:

“I never dreamed I would ever have something like this. There is no words that can fully explain how happy I am today. I am deeply appreciate and thankful to all my classmates, and especially to my sweetest professor Tammy Rice for made this very special, surprised and excited party as a warmly welcomed me as I passed the U.S citizen test and becoming the U.S citizen.”

Read our original story about Bar and his family here.

April 28, 2019 | 3:15 am

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