U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Alejandro Mayorkas today awarded Laura Zuchowski the 2010 Heritage Award for her distinguished contribution to USCIS and its mission. Zuchowski is chief of contracting support at the USCIS Vermont Field Service Center.
The Heritage Award is the highest individual award of more than 20 presented during the annual ceremony at USCIS headquarters in Washington, D.C.
“It is a privilege to work with such talented public servants as Laura. She exemplifies the extraordinary dedication and abilities of the men and women of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services who devote their careers to securing our nation’s promise as a beacon of hope and opportunity,” said Director Mayorkas.
Director Mayorkas praised Zuchowski’s role in standing up the USCIS Office of Contracting in Burlington, consolidating four contracting offices from across the country into one and dramatically improving organizational efficiency.
During the transition, Zuchowski filled 16 vacant positions and enhanced her branch’s customer service. Under her leadership, USCIS awarded approximately 3400 requisitions valued at more than $815 million. The Department of Homeland Security deemed the USCIS Office of Contracting a “best practices” office, worthy of emulation throughout the agency.
The USCIS Director’s Awards were presented on the eve of Citizenship Day and Constitution Day, celebrated each year on Sept. 17. USCIS is marking the holidays with a host of citizenship-related initiatives including special naturalization ceremonies and the awarding of the 2010 Citizenship and Integration Grants.
On Sept. 17, USCIS will announce the recipients of the 2010 Citizenship and Integration Grants. The grants, totaling nearly $8 million, will go to 75 organizations across the country to promote citizenship education and immigrant integration.
In addition, USCIS will naturalize more than 9,000 new citizens at 60-plus ceremonies across the country and around the world as part of continuing Citizenship Day and Constitution Day celebrations. The agency teamed with the National Park Service to hold many of the ceremonies at national park sites under the theme: “Embrace Citizenship – Experience America Through Your National Parks.”
USCIS is the government agency that oversees lawful immigration to the United States. For more information on USCIS and its programs, visit www.uscis.gov. To view a complete list of 2010 Constitution Day and Citizenship Day naturalization ceremonies, visit www.uscis.gov/news. For more on the USCIS Citizenship and Integration Grant Program, visit www.uscis.gov/grants.
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