Missionary and PGA Championship Chaplain Thomas Randall to Speak at Judson University's Spring Commencement
(Elgin, IL - March 27, 2012) Judson University has announced Thomas Randall as the keynote speaker for this spring's commencement ceremonies, scheduled for 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 28 in the Lindner Fitness Center (1151 N. State St., Elgin.)
Randall is a missionary, athlete, and speaker currently serving as a director for World Harvest Ministries and as chaplain to the Professional Golfers Association of America (PGA) Champions Tour.
Randall graduated from Judson College with a degree in Human Relations in 1976. As a Judson student athlete, Randall lettered in four sports (basketball, soccer, cross country, golf) and was named a four-time unanimous All-Conference basketball player setting seven school records, four conference records, and two national records. Judson named him Alumnus of the Year in 1981 and he was honored again in 1998 with an Honorary Doctorate Degree, and he was inducted into Judson's Athletic Hall of Fame in 2003.
Randall now has 36 years of missionary experience and with his wife, Karen. Through his role as both a missionary and athlete, Tom has played over 2,000 international basketball games around the world and took the opportunity to as share the Gospel of Jesus Christ in each place. He has coached and directed 105 different teams and 1,100 short-term missionaries during his time as a missionary in the Philippines. His half-time unicycle and juggling show has been performed in Olympic stadiums, on the Wide World of Sports television series in Australia, and in palaces, prisons, universities, military bases, and leper colonies around the globe. Around 600,000 people have been provided with Bibles and Bible study courses and materials through Tom's work as a missionary in the Philippines.
Randall and Karen currently reside in Edmond, Okla., where Randall continues his role as director of World Harvest Ministries. He also directs Sankey Samaritan Orphanage, home to 50 children in Lucena, Philippines. He also works with the Rizal Re-Creation Camp in Rizal, Philippines where 30,000 children and adults each year can hear about Christ in a beautiful camp setting.
In February 2000 Tom began work as Chaplain for the PGA Champions Tour, traveling to each tournament where he holds Bible studies for players, caddies, officials and their families. He also travels within the U.S. to speak in public and Christian schools, colleges, community groups, churches and camps.
At the 10 a.m. commencement ceremony, 109 students will graduate from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and the School of Leadership and Business, with four in absentia. Legacy Alumni that graduated from Judson College 40 or 45 years ago will gather for the 10 a.m. service, where they will be recognized and awarded a Judson University Diploma. Eight members of the Class of 1967, including the Senior Class President of the very first class to start and finish at Judson, will be in attendance. Seven members of the Class of 1972 will be recognized, including alumnus Bob Pleticha, who won the International Powerlifting Association's World Championship.
At the 2 p.m. ceremony, 70 students will graduate from the School of Art, Design and Architecture, and the School of Education, with one in absentia.
Located in Elgin, Ill., since 1963, Judson University is a fully accredited Christian liberal arts and sciences university offering degrees in more than 60 majors and minors. Programs available at Judson include Architecture, Art and Design, Communication Arts, Business, Education, Christian Ministries, Biblical and Theological Studies, Worship Arts, Music, History and Intercultural Studies, Exercise and Sports Sciences, Psychology and Sociology, and Math and Sciences. The school offers a wide variety of extracurricular activities with musical and theater ensembles, 17 intercollegiate sports, student government organizations, and several ministry opportunities locally and abroad. A Preview Day will be held April 13 for students interested in learning more about all of Judson's academic programs. For more information, visit www.JudsonU.edu.