Rocky Mountain National Park — Anca Marilena Niculae could not contain her excitement today, pumping her arms and fists into the air with exuberance.
Niculae, who left Romania in 1992 at age 13, had just become a U.S. citizen in a ceremony at Rocky Mountain National Park.
She could not apply for a U.S. passport until she became a citizen.
For the Fort Collins mental-health therapist, a passport will pave the way to her primary goal: to be a participant on the reality show “The Amazing Race.”
“You need a U.S. passport to be in ‘The Amazing Race,’ ” she said. “I’m really excited to get my passport.”
Niculae was one of 48 people who became U.S. citizens during the ceremony. They came from 17 countries, including Ireland, Israel and Mexico. About 200 family members and friends attended the ceremony.
“What you have gone through is incredible,” Robert Mather of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services told the group. “This is your day. Enjoy yourself.”
Staff writer Howard Pankratz can be reached at 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com.
