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(Ed. note: Oswego
Alumni Association Board of Directors President Jennifer
Shropshire ’86 attended Reunion 2006 as part of
the Cluster Reunion for the classes of 1985, 1986 and
1987. Here are her thoughts on coming back to Oswego.)
Two Presidents — SUNY Oswego
President Deborah F. Stanley (left) and Oswego
Alumni Association Board of Directors President
Jennifer Shropshire
’86 share a quiet
moment, watching the “Faces
of Oswego” video during Reunion 2006. |
I find myself beaming every time I come back to Oswego.
Oswego is like a second home, a place where I will always
be welcome. I think I made as many new friends at Reunion
as I reconnected with old friends. Oswegonians always
seem to be willing to reach out and include someone
new into the fun. My friends and colleagues in Philadelphia
(out-of-staters who wouldn’t necessarily know
Oswego’s reputation) know Oswego by what I tell
them, and I often say, “Oswego is made up of good
people. Good, meaning kind. Good, meaning smart. Good,
meaning interesting.” This is a compelling combination
that keeps me intrigued. I read a few of my favorite
books every five years, knowing that while the text
will be the same, I’m a different person and will
pick up on something new each time. That’s similar
to what I get out of Reunion weekends.
Oswego is in my blood. It has had and will continue
to have a tremendous impact on my personal and professional
life. I know this feeling resonates with other alumni
because, throughout the decades, many consistently speak
about what educators now call teachable moments. Lessons
learned at college live on in unexpected ways. At Reunion,
a former roommate and lifelong friend, Lisa
Jackson Collins '85, delighted me with her story
of how her bug collection generated for one of her zoology
classes boosted her credibility as a den mother for
her son’s scout troop. I was so excited for her,
and feel it’s a shared celebration. I have vivid
memories of helping her chase butterflies and other
insects for an entire semester.
So, how did I build such a strong bridge from my college
days to my contemporary world? It started in college,
getting involved in as many projects as I could find
time for and trying to max out the credit hours I could
take each semester. Post-college, it’s all about
going back to Reunions and volunteering. I believe there
is a role for every alum in supporting a richer experience
for current students as well as for alumni. Thanks to
all for making me feel so lucky to be an Oswego graduate.
Jennifer Shropshire ’86
President
Oswego Alumni Association Board of Directors |
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