Otterbein College senior Emmanuel "Manny" Brown has been chosen as the commencement speaker for his graduating class. He will address the class of 2009, as well as friends and family, on Sunday, June 14, in the Rike Center on the Otterbein campus in Westerville.

"Otterbein has a special place in my life and it is unimaginable to even articulate my true feelings," Manny said. "Otterbein has really made a difference in my life and I hope to be able to give back to the institution the way it has given to me. Someday I hope to be able to help change someone's life the way Otterbein has changed mine."

A sociology major from Columbus (43229), Manny is a student member of the College's Board of Trustees and serves as the College Judicial Council Chair and is a member of Administrative Council, College Senate, Student Life Committee and Martin Luther King Jr. Convocation Committee. He is a member of Otterbein's African American Student Union.

In his community, Manny is assistant regional vice president of Alphi Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and is also a member of their board of directors. In addition, he serves on the Alpha Phi Alpha Educational Foundation and is a financial aid advisor for I Know I Can in Columbus. He has interned in the office of an Ohio State Senator from December 2005 to March 2006 and with the Task Force Police in Columbus from September 2004 to June 2005.

Manny will be pursuing his master's of divinity degree at Vanderbilt University, which offered him the Dean's Scholarship.

Thirteen students auditioned for the honor of giving the commencement speech. Excerpts from their speeches can be read at http://www.otterbein.edu/Classof2009/commencement-speeches09.asp.