Jennifer Shropshire, class of 1986, delivers the keynote address April 15 at the college's annual Honors Convocation in Marano Campus Center convocation hall and arena. "Whether you are black, white, Latino, Asian, bicultural, multicultural; whether you are male, female, transgendered; Republican, Democrat or Independent; urban, suburban or rural; athletic, artistic or entrepreneur: Promise me you will speak up and share your voice, as though it is a valuable thing. Because it is. I'm counting on you to speak up and be heard," she told around 115 students receiving academic honors and others in attendance. From left, Pam Michel, dean of the School of Education; college President Deborah F. Stanley; and Samantha Kaye, president of Vega women's honor society, listen to Shropshire, a principal at Edward F. Swenson & Associates, a management and fundraising consulting firm to nonprofit organizations.