Manor Student Becomes U.S. Citizen in Pursuit of Dental Career
Luciel Montas (Philadelphia – Cotuy, Dominican Republic) is a first-year Dental Hygiene student at Manor College.
Reflecting on what she calls one of the best moments of her life, Luciel Montas twirls the stick of an American flag.
“I need to get used to putting it the right way,” she says, questioning which way the stars and stripes should face when taking a picture.
Hours earlier, she’d recited the Pledge of Allegiance to the United States of America in a West Philadelphia courtroom. It was the completion of nearly four years worth of work.
“When they said, ‘Welcome to the United States of America,’ I cried,” Montas said. “Today was an achievement that I did for myself. I’m so proud of the hard work that I put in.”
Montas, 30, grew up in Cotuy, the central region of the Dominican Republic. She loved helping people at a young age and eventually became a dentist.
“In the United States, people have more access to dentistry, but that’s not the case in the Dominican Republic,” Montas said. “I thought becoming a dentist was a way to help people, to improve their life in some way.”
Over the years, Montas and her family took several trips to the United States. Her sister became the first person to stay in the United States. In January 2021, Montas came to the United States to help her sister who had just had a baby. Three months later, she began the citizenship process.
“I told myself, ‘if I can find a way to study, I will stay,’” Montas said.
First, Montas found work as a server at a Peruvian restaurant on Castor Avenue. Then, she received her certification to be a dental assistant, but she yearned to do more. She began searching for dental hygiene programs across the Philadelphia area and read a story about Dr. Virginia Saunders, the former director of Manor College’s Dental Hygiene program who retired in 2024.
“When I read that story on Manor’s website, I saw how committed she was to the program and how she personally teaches people,” Montas said. “If I see a person who enjoys teaching like that, that’s the place I want to be. It has been one of my best decisions.”
Montas interviewed with Dr. Saunders for the Dental Hygiene program and received her acceptance in April 2024, but Dr. Saunders retired before she could teach Montas.
“We had such a great interview and I would like to tell her thank you for accepting me,” Montas said. “She made me promise to do my best if I was accepted and I want her to know that I want to make her proud.”
Jane Hannon, who taught Montas in the Fall, said, “It was heartwarming to see the pride she had in herself the day she became a U.S. citizen. Luciel is a hard-working, conscientious student who is always polite and respectful. I’m very proud of the work she’s done.”
Now a naturalized citizen of the United States, Montas is finding her footing in America. She’s laying down roots with no desire to return to the Dominican Republic.
“Being an American, this is my home,” Montas said. “I love the Dominican. I’m always going to have a place for it in my heart, but this is my home now.”
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