Hiliana Gleave of Midpines recently became a U.S. citizen during a swearing-in ceremony at the Fresno Convention Center. 

A native of Honduras, Gleave visited her cousin in Yosemite in 2009. There she met her future husband, Mark Gleave, who was employed by Delaware North Company. They married the following year. In 2012 enrolled in the adult literacy program at the Mariposa Library to work on the skills Gleave she would need to take the citizenship test, including English language and U.S. history.
(Pictured above): Hiliana Gleave, with her citizenship papers in hand, is surrounded by her tutors, L-R Tom Martin, Mitchel Terkildsen and Linda Erhardt at the recent swearing-in ceremony in Fresno.

Volunteer tutors Mitchel Terkildsen and Linda Erhardt worked closely with Gleave during the next three years. When it was finally time to complete the application forms, Tom Martin volunteered to help. They also attended the swearing-in ceremony, along with her husband, family friends and Adult Literacy Coordinator Karen Dusek.

When asked about his experience tutoring Gleave, Terkildsen said, “The words that keep coming to mind are hard-working, motivated and very pleasant. It’s very satisfying as a volunteer to have been able to experience with her becoming an American citizen.”

Gleave understands the importance of a good education. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Spanish from the Universidad Pedagógica Nacional Francisco Morazán and worked as an elementary school teacher and college administrator in Honduras. She is currently working as a housekeeper and hopes to find expanded job opportunities with her new status as a citizen and by continuing to improve her spoken and written English language skills.

“It is a great opportunity to live in a great country in peace and work hard to build a wonderful life,” Gleave said. “And now English is my language, so I have to learn my language.”

“The (adult literacy) program is a good option for everybody. It doesn’t matter your level of education. Some people come here without elementary school, and they learn.”

“It’s not just learning,” she continued.” “You find someone to talk to. Some people are alone. The tutors listen to and care about you. It’s hard when you are in a different culture and your friends and family are far away.”

Gleave has three daughters, Hiliana Lizeth and Francia Carolina Solorzano Mejia, both attending graduate school in the Netherlands, and Bianca Paola Solorzano Mejia, who will be studying in Spain this year.