World Leaders Forum proudly held its 3rd Annual Charity Golf Outing to raise funds for its transformative RISE Program, a unique initiative that offers students with intellectual disabilities the chance to experience a full, enriching college life. Held at picturesque Bull Valley Golf Club in Woodstock, Illinois, the event brought together community members, sponsors, and participants who share a commitment to helping these students thrive academically and socially.

The RISE Program at �������� is dedicated to providing students with disabilities an inclusive environment where they can engage in academic studies, campus activities, and develop life skills. This charity golf outing plays a vital role in securing the resources needed to support this mission, ensuring that RISE students have access to everything a traditional college experience offers.

Charity Golf Event Highlights

This year’s golf outing featured a day of friendly competition, with teams hitting the green for a fun-filled tournament. Participants were able to enjoy the sunny weather and the beautifully maintained course, competing for a variety of exciting prizes. The event saw strong attendance, including prominent local businesses and community leaders who came together for a common cause—empowering students with disabilities.

For the 3^rd year in a row, Cydney Clanton, a professional golfer from the LPGA Tour, participated in the event hosting a golf clinic with the RISE students. Also, Cydney brought her expertise, interacting with players, offering golf tips, and sharing her journey as a professional athlete. Her presence added an inspiring element to the event, as attendees had the unique opportunity to meet and learn from a world-class golfer while supporting a charitable cause.

Supporting the RISE Program at ��������

The funds raised during the Charity Golf Outing will directly benefit the RISE Program, helping �������� provide tailored academic support, vocational training, and social experiences that allow RISE students to fully integrate into campus life. This program is designed to enhance the personal development of students with disabilities, giving them the opportunity to grow in a supportive and inclusive environment.

After a day of golf, participants gathered for a reception featuring gourmet food and beverages. This reception allowed attendees to relax, network, and reflect on the positive impact they are helping to create for the RISE students. The sense of community and shared purpose was evident, making the event not only a financial success but also a heartwarming celebration of the spirit of giving.

Gratitude to Our Sponsors and Supporters

We would like to extend a special thank-you to our generous sponsors, whose contributions made this year’s event possible. Their support, along with the involvement of players and volunteers, ensures that the RISE Program will continue to make a profound difference in the lives of our students.

Looking Ahead

As World Leaders Forum looks forward to future Charity Golf Outings, the goal remains the same: to raise awareness and funds for the RISE Program. By creating opportunities for students with disabilities, �������� is helping shape the future for these students in powerful and meaningful ways. We are excited to see the continued growth of this event and the ongoing support from the community, alumni, and local businesses.

Thank you to everyone who participated and made this event such a success. We look forward to seeing you next year at World Leaders Forum’s 4th Annual Charity Golf Outing, where we will once again come together to support the RISE Program and the incredible students it serves.

BE PART OF THE NEXT WORLD LEADERS FORUM CHARITY GOLF OUTING!

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Elgin, IL — �������� is proud to announce that The Right Honourable Stephen J. Harper, former Prime Minister of Canada, will be the distinguished speaker at the 2024 World Leaders Forum. The event will take place on October 3, 2024, at Herrick Chapell on the ��������’s Elgin campus.

Mr. Harper served as the 22nd Prime Minister of Canada from 2006 to 2015, during which he played a pivotal role in navigating Canada through a global financial crisis, advocating for international trade, and strengthening the nation’s economic and security policies. His leadership has left a lasting impact on global politics, making him an exemplary figure for this year’s World Leaders Forum.

The World Leaders Forum provides a unique opportunity for students, faculty, and the broader community to engage with influential global leaders. This event aims to inspire attendees by presenting firsthand insights into world affairs, leadership, and the challenges faced by those at the helm of national governments.

Tickets for the event are available for purchase at . Attendees are encouraged to secure their seats early as this event is expected to sell out quickly.

For more information about the 2024 World Leaders Forum and to purchase tickets, please visit .

About ��������
��������, located in Elgin, Illinois, is a Christian liberal arts university offering a broad range of undergraduate, graduate, and adult professional programs. The University is dedicated to equipping students to become leaders in their chosen fields through a combination of rigorous academics, real-world experience, and a strong emphasis on the development of Christian values.

Fresh Ideas
McGrath Auto Group
Rabine Group
Kovitz
Assured Partners
CPS- Creative Promotional Solutions
The Distance Social
PepsiCo
Itasca Bank & Trust
NCCAA
Fig Factor Media
SportsFaith
Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce
BoJangles
BSN Sports
Crumble Cookies
Woodstock Harley Davidson
Viator Coffee Co
The Hoag Family

The World Leaders Forum Inspirational Series will welcome Dr. Shawna Pandya, a physician surgeon, citizen scientist, and astronaut candidate from Alberta, Canada to �������� in Elgin. The main event will be held at 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 12, at the University’s Herrick Chapel, 1151 N. State Street in Elgin. Entrepreneur Jacqueline Ruiz will host this event. Tickets are on sale for general and VIP admission. 

The event with Dr. Pandya is the fifth Inspirational Series event and the second developed and hosted by Jacqueline Ruiz, an entrepreneur, author, and Latina pilot. Previous Inspirational Speakers at the event have included Hispanic actor and director Edward James Olmos magician Jim Munroe in 2017, Olympic champion Mary Lou Retton in 2016, and Australian-American Christian evangelist and motivational speaker Nick Vujicic in 2015. 

“Dr. Pandya is an example of someone who isn’t afraid to go beyond the boundaries with her dynamic exploration of space, neuroscience, medicine, and even uncharted waters,” Ruiz said. “In our conversation, audiences will resonate with the resilience and perseverance she has experienced in her personal and professional pursuits. �������� is proud to have her join its distinguished list of Inspirational Speakers.”

“�������� is honored to host Dr. Pandya as part of the World Leaders Forum Inspirational Series and to learn more about what inspires and motivates her to explore the realms of science and space. Her story demonstrates how education opens previously unimaginable career paths and how a life-long love of learning fosters creativity and innovation,” said �������� President Gene Crume.

Proceeds from this event will fund leadership, entrepreneurship, diversity, and RISE program scholarships for students at ��������. Beginning at 3:30 p.m., VIP ticket purchasers can attend an hors d’oeuvres reception and will have a meet-and-greet photo opportunity with Dr. Pandya prior to the event.

Tickets start at $50. For more information, visit

About Dr. Shawna Pandya:

Dr. Shawna Pandya is passionate about the two ‘extremes’ of humanity – surviving and thriving. She’s interested in furthering technological innovation and human knowledge and tackling humanity’s grandest challenges to affect positive social change. 

After leaving her career in neurosurgery she went from repeatedly telling herself “I am an absolute disgrace,” to gaining a new sense of being.

In her talks, Shawna talks passionately about resilience and the lifelong learning she came to embrace from her time with sociopaths, Navy SEALs, martial arts, medicine, astronauts, and from her father.

She successfully completed Scientist‐Astronaut Candidate training in 2015 with Project PoSSUM (Polar Suborbital Science in the Upper Mesosphere) and was part of the first crew to test a commercial spacesuit in zero gravity. 

In 2016, Shawna was named as prime crew for Project Poseidon, which aims to further ocean and space exploration, while setting a world record for “most days spent under the sea.” She also received the Global Women of Vision Award in 2016. 

Preparing for space requires more than just knowledge — it involves an incredible amount of mental and physical agility. Outside of her work, Shawna continues to further develop these skills through martial arts. She holds a black belt in taekwondo, a sport she’s been practicing for over 15 years. She has also traveled to Thailand annually since 2015 to train in muay thai.

The series will commence virtually at 10 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, Feb. 13, 15, and 17. Featured speakers will include Daniel Yang, business entrepreneur A.J. Patton, and ��������’s Black Student Union with Teddy Matthews.

The series begins with the Monday, Feb. 13, chapel featuring , Director of the Billy Graham Centers’ Church Multiplication Institute (formerly known as the Send Institute). Prior to directing the institute, he planted a church in Toronto where he also helped recruit, assess, and train church planters through the Send Network and the Release Initiative. Yang has served on various church staffs including Northwood Church, where he was trained as a church planter and involved in global and multi-faith engagement.

The Wednesday, Feb. 15, chapel will feature , founder, and CEO of 548 Enterprise, a full-service development and construction company focused on environmental sustainability and building wealth in communities of color with projects planned in North Lawndale and South Chicago. Patton serves on the board of ��������’s World Leaders Forum and is an entrepreneur devoted to giving back to the community and fostering leadership.

The series ends on Friday, Feb. 17, with ��������’s Black Student Union and will feature , a transformational coach who empowers individuals and organizations with practical tools on how to move towards optimal living and performance. Matthews is a certified speaker, coach, and trainer with both the John Maxwell Team as well Eric Thomas & Associates, under the tutelage of Dr. Eric Thomas more commonly known as “ET the Hip Hop Preacher.”

�������� brings together students of various backgrounds in a Christ-centered and biblically based community. With a commitment to diversity and social engagement, the Race and Justice series is one way for ��������’s Chapel series to engage current issues of race relations in light of the gospel.

For more information about the upcoming chapel series, visit . Chapels shared virtually within the �������� community can be viewed on the university’s YouTube .

“This event is an opportunity to explore the 100^th anniversary of Eric Liddell’s accomplishment and discover what it means for today’s exploration of service and achievement,” said �������� President Dr. Gene Crume, the North American representative of The Eric Liddell Community. “Eric Liddell’s compelling story demonstrates the values and principles that will both inform and inspire future generations. Hearing from our speakers at this World Leaders Forum event will demonstrate the way these values continue today.” 

Previous World Leaders Forum keynote speakers include former President George W. Bush, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Russian President Mikhail Gorbachev, United Kingdom Prime Minister Tony Blair, Mexican President Felipe Calderón, Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, former Vermont Governor Howard Dean, U.S. Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy and, most recently, Ret. General David Petraeus.  The goal of the World Leaders Forum is to offer �������� students and the Chicagoland community an opportunity to be inspired by significant thought leaders. Proceeds will fund scholarships for ��������’s Roeser and RISE Programs, support ongoing operations of the World Leaders Forum, and benefit The Eric Liddell Community, which is an Edinburgh care charity and community hub founded in 1980. 

The 2023 World Leaders Forum will feature a community event at 7 p.m. at the �������� Herrick Chapel and a VIP reception starting at 5:30 p.m. At the event, Sir James MacMillan and The Lord Smith of Kelvin, KT CH will each share a keynote address and engage in a question-and-answer session. This conversation will be facilitated by Gus Noble OBE, President of the , which was founded to promote Scottish culture throughout Chicagoland in 1845 and is the oldest charity in Illinois. At the VIP event, guests will have a photo opportunity with both speakers. Additional special guests attending will be announced in the coming months. 

Tickets to the VIP event and the Community event are available to the public beginning January 3. For sponsorship information, visit . Tickets are now available at . 

About Sir James MacMillan
Sir James MacMillan is one of today’s most successful composers and performs internationally as a conductor. MacMillan first became internationally recognized after the extraordinary success of The Confession of Isobel Gowdie at the BBC Proms in 1990. His major works include percussion concerto Veni, Veni, Emmanuel, which has received close to 500 performances, a cello concerto for Mstislav Rostropovich, and five symphonies. Recent major works include his Percussion Concerto No.2 for Colin Currie and his Symphony No.5, written for The Sixteen, which premiered at the Edinburgh International Festival. 

MacMillan enjoys a flourishing career as conductor of his own music alongside a range of contemporary and standard repertoire, praised for the composer’s insight he brings to each score. He has conducted orchestras such as the National Symphony Orchestra Washington, Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony, Rotterdam Philharmonic, Munich Philharmonic, Vienna Radio Symphony, Gothenburg Symphony, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC Scottish Symphony, Toronto Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, among others. In January 2021 MacMillan conducted the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra in the Dutch premiere of his Christmas Oratorio; later that year the work received its UK premiere with the London Philharmonic Orchestra. MacMillan founded the music festival The Cumnock Tryst in October 2014, which takes place annually in his native Ayrshire. MacMillan was awarded a CBE in 2004 and a Knighthood in 2015.

About The Lord Smith of Kelvin KT CH 
One of the United Kingdom’s most experienced chairs, Lord Smith has led organizations in the private, public and voluntary sectors. He was the Chair of SSE until July 2015. In 2014, he chaired the Organizing Committee for Glasgow 2014 (Commonwealth Games) and the Smith Commission on further powers for the Scottish Parliament. A chartered accountant by profession and former President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland, Lord Smith was knighted in 1999, appointed to the House of Lords as an independent cross-bench peer in 2008, appointed Knight of the Thistle in 2013, and awarded the Companion of Honour in 2016. He is currently chair of IMI plc, British Business Bank, Forth Ports Ltd., and the Commonwealth Games Federation Partnership. Additionally, he is Chancellor of the University of Strathclyde.

The 2022-23 �������� Roeser Scholars are (front row, left to right) Aiden Arnold of Ipswich, Mass., Hana Cunningham of Terre Haute, Ind., Michaela McTighe of Plano, Ill., Keilah Reinhart of Waunakee, Wisc., and Connor Richmond of Marion, Iowa; (back row, left to right) Grace Kidwell of Terre Haute, Ind., Emma Walberg of Belvidere, Ill., Christina Lundquist of Sugar Grove, Ill., and Catherine Hegewald of Eagan, Minn.

�������� is grateful to OTTO Engineering, Inc.’s support in a 5-year commitment to deepen their partnership to this program. Through this collaboration, the �������� Leadership Program has now become the Roeser Scholars program. This is the most prestigious scholarship that a �������� student can receive and a limited number of recipients are selected for this honor each year. To be eligible, students must demonstrate creativity, leadership, innovation, mission, and faith. They must also maintain good academic standing.

The Roeser Scholars have access to unique opportunities to cultivate their aptitude for leadership. They receive sponsored tickets to World Leaders Forum events and the opportunity to interview for the World Leaders Forum Internship position during their sophomore, junior and senior years at ��������. Each scholar also participates in monthly meetings with the World Leaders Forum Director and University President that cover a wide range of topics including entrepreneurship, leadership development, business etiquette, and networking. Often scholars hear from experienced leaders from a variety of fields at these meetings.  As part of the program, students are invited to an exclusive VIP reception with ��������’s president, global thought-leaders who participate in World Leaders Forum events, trustees, and distinguished alumni.

More than 400 attendees came to ��������’s Herrick Chapel to hear Olmos speak. Olmos is best known for his roles as Lieutenant Martin “Marty Castillo” in “Miami Vice” (1984–1989) and has appeared in countless movie and TV roles during his 50-year career. He spoke about the value of the arts, the power of diligence in practicing your craft daily, and the importance of teachers within our community.

With humor and grace, Olmos related how early in his life, he believed that he would have a career in baseball because of his success with the game. But then Olmos shifted his focus when he discovered rock and roll in 1960 and worked diligently to become a rock musician where he was successful and worked the Sunset Strip in LA. Then he attended East LA Community College and discovered his passion for acting. Olmos said the key to his success in each pursuit was practicing his craft seven days a week.

“I disciplined myself to do the things I loved to do even when I didn’t feel like doing the things I loved to do,” Olmos said as he encouraged the audience to work hard at their passion to become great.

As he described his groundbreaking work in the film industry, Olmos recounted his early roles in “Zoot Suit,” “Blade Runner,” “Miami Vice” and “Battlestar Galactica,” where he created unique and iconic characters. Nominated for a Tony award and three Emmy awards, Olmos received an Emmy for his work in “Miami Vice,” and two Golden Globe Awards for “Miami Vice” and “The Burning Season.” Olmos said he was the first and only Mexican-American who has was nominated for an Academy Award.

“We must do better,” he said noting that the Latino population faces many discriminatory challenges despite being a dominating population in the United States. He encouraged the audience to work to see and experience the beauty of other cultures and to rise above stereotypes.

This Inspiration Series was hosted for the first time by Jacqueline Ruiz, an entrepreneur, author, and Latina pilot. She asked Olmos where he finds inspiration.  He responded that he is inspired by his work as a director and producer to create new opportunities for other Latino artists and filmmakers to tell their stories through film. 

Rick Najera, an award-winning screenwriter, sketch comedian, and author, also joined the conversation.  Najera was the lynchpin to connecting Olmos with Ruiz and coming to speak at the Inspiration Series. Olmos is godfather to Najera’s daughters and the two friends are close enough that they are like family. In fact, just seven days ago, Olmos was with Najera when he was in the hospital having brain surgery.

The three guests talked about the importance of telling your story, honoring the people you love, and finding ways to include all people, Mexican and white people, to help build an America where eventually prejudice will fall away “because we are looking at people.”

Najera was presented with a Communion Champion award for igniting the flame of inspiration. Mark Vargas ’04, chair of the World Leaders Forum board, presented Olmos with an antique Elgin watch. Proceeds from this event will fund leadership, entrepreneurship, diversity, and RISE program scholarships for students at ��������. A special VIP event was held 5:30 p.m. at another location on campus.

About the World Leaders Forum Inspiration Series
This event marked the return of the Inspirational Series after a five-year break. With Olmos as the featured guest, this is the fourth Inspirational Series event and the first developed and hosted in partnership with Jacqueline Ruiz. Previous speakers at the event have been Magician Jim Munroe in 2017, Olympic Champion Mary Lou Retton in 2016, and Inspirational Speaker Nick Vujicic in 2015.

After a hiatus in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, �������� announced today the return of the World Leaders Forum on Nov. 5, 2021, headlined by foreign policy expert and retired Gen. David Petraeus. Originally scheduled as the 2020 keynote speaker, Petraeus will mark the return of the World Leaders Forum and its 10th anniversary in a Q&A with distinguished �������� alumnus Mark Vargas at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel in Schaumburg.

“As the past year has demonstrated, we are living in a time of significant global challenges and we want to prepare our students and community members to lead on the world’s stage,” said �������� President Dr. Gene Crume. “We are incredibly proud to welcome General Petraeus to kick off the return of the World Leaders Forum and celebrate a decade of this empowering and impactful program.”

Now in its 10th year, ��������’s World Leaders Forum brings recognized world leaders to the Chicago area to provide an opportunity for �������� students and community members to be inspired by significant thought leaders. Previous keynote speakers include former President George W. Bush, former Russian President Mikhail Gorbachev, former United Kingdom Prime Minister Tony Blair, and most recently former U.S. Ambassador Caroline Kennedy.

Proceeds from the World Leaders Forum fund ��������’s Roeser Scholars program, which provides leadership development, entrepreneurial initiatives, and higher education opportunities for youth in foster care.

“We believe that education is the great equalizer, and are thrilled that support from the World Leaders Forum can help make educational dreams a reality for youth in our community who face barriers,” said World Leaders Forum board chair Mark Vargas.

Petraeus served 37 years in the U.S. military, including as commander of U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, before being appointed by then-President Barack Obama as the director of the Central Intelligence Agency in 2011. In civilian life, Petraeus now serves as chairman of the KKR Global Institute, an investment firm, and holds various roles supporting veterans service organizations. Vargas met the acclaimed general while serving as a civilian on a Department of Defense task force to stabilize Iraq through economic development, and they remain in close contact today.

The World Leaders Forum will be held off campus at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center for the second time. A VIP reception with Petraeus will precede the program at 5 p.m., and the speaking program will begin at 7 p.m.

Tickets for general admission, premium admission and VIP experiences are available to the public now. For ticketing and sponsorship information, visit WorldLeadersForum.info.

ABOUT RETIRED GENERAL DAVID PETRAEUS

General David H. Petraeus served more than 37 years in the U.S. military, concluding his career with six consecutive commands, five of which were in combat, including command of coalition forces during the surge in Iraq, command of U.S. Central Command, and command of coalition forces in Afghanistan. Following his service in the military, Petraeus served as the director of the CIA during a period of significant achievements in the global war on terror. He currently serves as chairman of the KKR Global Institute, an arm of the global investment firm KKR. He is an honorary professor at the University of Birmingham in England and is a board member of the Institute for the Study of War, the Atlantic Council and more than a dozen veterans service organizations.

Petraeus has received numerous U.S. military, State Department, NATO, and United Nations medals and awards, including four Defense Distinguished Service Medals, the Bronze Star Medal for Valor, the Combat Action Badge, the Ranger tab, and master parachutist wings, and he has been decorated by 13 foreign countries.

Petraeus graduated with distinction from the U.S. Military Academy and subsequently earned a doctorate in an interdisciplinary program of international relations and economics from Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. Click here to download a photo of Petraeus for publication.

ABOUT JUDSON UNIVERSITY

Located in Elgin, Illinois, since 1963, �������� offers a Christian liberal arts and sciences education through its Bachelor of Arts degrees for more than 60 majors, minors, graduate programs, and online, as well as certification and accelerated adult degree programs.