Students from around the world gather at San Diego College of Continuing Education with a shared dream to become United States citizens. For it is there that they find more than a school — it is a community that encourages student to be themselves while providing the support needed for them to create the futures they’ve always envisioned.
One of those students was Bettina Andersen, who came to the U.S. from Denmark in 2014. In 2023, after losing her job and determined to gain the right to vote, Andersen enrolled in SDCCE’s free citizenship program.
“I was incredibly grateful I could access quality education without the cost,” she
said.
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Inside SDCCE’s Mid-City Campus, often nicknamed the “United Nations” for its joyful mix of cultures, Andersen joined a classroom filled with American flags and even larger American dreams. She studied U.S. history and government, worked through mock interviews, and received personalized guidance from staff and volunteers, including Mike Wapner, a former municipal attorney.
Wapner, who has been volunteering with the program for nearly a decade, originally read in The San Diego Union-Tribune about a need for volunteers for SDCCE’s citizenship program
Twice a week, Wapner, who was looking for an impactful way to give back to the community, tutors adult learners at SDCCE’s Mid-City Campus. He assists students in strengthening their English and prepares them for the civics test required for naturalization, ensuring they are ready when the time comes for their official U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services appointments.
“I help make sure their citizenship application is complete and that students are confident heading into their interviews,” he said. “If I do spot an issue, I refer the student to the appropriate resource.”
Wapner’s legal background led him to deepen his knowledge of immigration law — a reflection of his commitment to the program and dedication to ensuring that students, including Andersen, feel both safe and informed.
Just two months before taking her Oath of Allegiance in 2024, Andersen’s mother passed away. To honor her mother, Andersen said easily "yes" to Wapner's suggestion that she become a program volunteer.
“The support I received in the classroom was beyond important,” Andersen said. “The volunteers secured a refuge for citizenship seekers. The fact that a person offers his or her time for free to help you has such profound magnitude and helps you believe not only in yourself but that it is actually possible for you to become a citizen. To be able to pass this positive experience forward is a privilege and a great honor for me.”
Building Lasting Collaboration
It was not just Wapner who, 10 years ago, felt the call of that pivotal Union-Tribune article seeking volunteers for SDCCE citizenship classes. Rudy Shappee, a retired U.S. Navy chief warrant officer and former ESL teacher, was struck with an idea: enlist USS Midway Museum volunteers to support the student citizenship journey. He reached out to College of Continuing Education, and from there, a unique collaboration was born. With his wife, Louise, also a former teacher, Rudy helped design a formal training process for museum volunteers. Louise now tutors weekly at SDCCE’s Educational Cultural Complex.
For nearly two decades, volunteers from the USS Midway Museum have contributed more than 13,000 hours to SDCCE’s ESL and citizenship classes. The USS Midway Museum is the only military ship in the nation to offer civic volunteer opportunities that support the path to citizenship through a community college partnership.
“The USS Midway once protected the Constitution at sea,” said Wapner. “Now, through this partnership with SDCCE, it helps protect our country by supporting new Americans who want to uphold its values.”
The program now boasts 15 active volunteers serving between the Midway and citizenship classes, operating at full capacity with a waiting list.
Like Wapner and the Shappees, retired U.S. Air Force Col. Dale W. Santee began tutoring with SDCCE in 2016 following the Union-Tribune article. The story resonated since his father was a naturalized citizen, and his wife is a legal permanent resident.
“I had just retired and wanted to do something meaningful,” he said. “This felt right.”
After observing classes initially, Santee began tutoring at the Mid-City Campus both in person and online, which he continues to do to this day. Now, he leads the USS Midway’s civics program, interviewing prospective tutors for the SDCCE program and guiding new volunteers as they enter the classroom. For Santee, the real reward is seeing students succeed.
“Many of them were doctors, lawyers, engineers in their home countries,” he said. “They gave up everything to start over, and they never complain. They just want to learn, to build something better for their families. They’re some of the most hardworking, appreciative people I’ve ever met.”
THE “BE” MOMENT
Since 1914, San Diego College of Continuing Education has supported immigrants and refugees from all over the world in becoming new Americans.
On average, between 40-50 students each semester receives a certificate of completion for meeting the required 270 hours for the Pre-Citizenship and Citizenship classes.
Volunteers are crucial for building a welcoming environment where students can feel free to be themselves while also preparing for the citizenship application, the Government and History Test, and the final U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services interview.