Press and Media
World Leaders Forum
Press and News Coverage
World Leaders Forum
Daily Herald
Tony Blair inspires during Judson University visit
By Tara García Mathewson
"Inspiring" was the overwhelming description from those who saw former British Prime Minister Tony Blair speak Friday at Judson University... Read More >>
Daily Herald
What Tony Blair’s Elgin visit meant for local police
By Tara García Mathewson
The 40 or so police officers at Judson University making sure Tony Blair's visit went smoothly were a far cry from the approximately 150 people who descended on the campus for former President George W. Bush's speech in 2011... Read More >>
Courier News
Sharing the challenges of leadership
By Emily McFarlan Miller
The problem with being a political leader is explaining to people, at the end of the day, that “you’re an Earthling,” according to Tony Blair, former prime minister of Great Britain... Read More >>
Fox 32 News (Chicago)
Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair to speak at Judson
Staff Reports...
Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair will speak this spring at Judson University's third-annual World Leaders Forum... Read More >>
Daily Herald
Tony Blair another costly guest for Judson University
By Tara García Mathewson
Elgin's Judson University will maintain its reputation for bringing big-name leaders when it hosts Blair for the third annual World Leaders Forum on April 12... Read More >>
Elgin Courier News
Gorbachev to highlight 2012 Judson World Leaders Forum
Staff Reports...
Former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev will be the keynote speaker April 21 when Judson University hosts its second World Leaders Forum... Read More >>
Courier News
Bush Talk Earns Applause and a Portrait
By Emily McFarlan...
It’s not your typical presidential portrait: The former president leans against a fence post, wearing a button-down denim shirt and a wide smile. There’s no suit, no stiff pose, no American flag in the background.
“He’s got a bigger smile on his face. He’s more relaxed,” said John Carlson of La Galerie in St. Charles... Read More >>
TribLocal
Bush stresses principles to students
By Melissa Jenco
Judson University students said they got to see a different side of George W. Bush than they were used to when he spoke on campus and many walked away impressed.
The former president talked on entrepreneurship last week as part of the Elgin school’s inaugural World Leaders Forum. In addition to his keynote address, he also took part in a question-and-answer session in front of a crowd of 1,300. Roughly 550 of those were Judson students... Read More >>
News Radio 780AM WBBM
Hastert Acknowledges Increasing Gap Between Rich And Poor
By Craig Dellimore
Former President George W. Bush is visiting Elgin this evening to give an economic address and answer questions.
WBBM Political Editor Craig Dellimore spoke with another of the high-profile invited guests.
Former President Bush was invited to kick off Judson University’s World Leaders’ Forum with a talk about free enterprise, and the idea that it’s the dream of all free people. Former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert was invited too, and he agrees with the premise, even if some people can’t achieve that dream. He said the gap between the rich and poor is growing. Listen Here >>
CBS News
Bush, Obama Set To Come To Chicago
By Regine Schlesinger
Over the next 48 hours, the Chicago area will host two presidents – one a former president and the second, the current president.
As WBBM Newsradio 780′s Regine Schlesinger reports, first, the 43rd president, George W. Bush, comes to town Wednesday to inaugurate the first World Leaders’ Forum at Judson University and Evangelical School in Elgin… Listen Here>>
Daily Herald
Ticket to See Bush in Elgin a Dream Come True for Grayslake Veteran, Wife
By Kerry Lester
Jose and Lisa Guerrero didn’t just live through former President George W. Bush’s policy decisions during his eight-year tenure as president — their lives were dramatically altered by them.
Jose, a 26-year member of the Army National Guard, was deployed under Bush three different times — in Germany as part of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2001, in Iraq in 2005 and in Afghanistan in 2008… Read More>>
2012 World Leaders Forum Wrap-Up
2012 Event Summary
Judson University is proud to have held the second World Leader's Forum, featuring President Mikhail Gorbachev. This annual event brings groups of World Leaders to the campus to inspire leadership for all who attend.
Nobel Laureate Mikhail Gorbachev Shares leadership Insights at Judson's Second World Leaders Forum
“I believe in people. In the time of change that is happening everywhere and that has penetrated all countries of the world, I believe change is necessary,” said Nobel Laureate and Former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev to a full chapel audience at Judson University. “I believe we must make choices. We must address the social problems in the world,” he noted.
Gorbachev’s response was part of the question and answer session during his keynote address at the Christian University’s second annual World Leaders Forum on Saturday, April 21. More than 750 guests convened at the Elgin campus for the VIP reception and keynote in the Betty Lindner Campus Commons and the lecture in Herrick Chapel for Judson students, staff, faculty and alumni.
During his keynote address, titled "Peace in the 21st Century," Gorbachev painted a very bleak picture of life in the Soviet Union when he was young, sharing memories of his early childhood when Germans occupied his village during WWII, and later, the poverty-stricken rural community under the rule of Soviet leaders. His parents were illiterate; his town had no education to offer beyond the eighth grade. Yet, Gorbachev says, he loved to study and so he worked hard to achieve honors at school in a nearby district, and later at Moscow State University where he earned a law degree in 1955.
Gorbachev highlighted the extreme risk that it took to bring about the extreme changes that took place in his time as president of the Soviet Union.
"The Soviet Union needed to start moving toward democracy, freedom, and respecting individuals' rights and religious beliefs. We needed to realize that all these things were absent from us." He explained that it was only through recognizing those key elements of a functioning government that he was able to move his country toward lasting change.
"In America a lot has been done to advance democracy. The laws here really can protect the individual. I do not mean to overpraise you," he said, much to the crowd's amusement, adding that America still faces many problems. To read a full account of the World Leaders Forum, read our full news article posted on April 21.
The university hosted former U.S. President George W. Bush as the keynote speaker for Judson's inaugural World Leaders Forum on April 13, 2011.
2011 World Leaders Forum Wrap-Up
2011 Event Summary
VIP Reception
Judson University President Jerry Cain speaks during the VIP Reception at the World Leaders Forum. All photographs courtesy of Robb Davidson '08 and Kevin Sherman '09
Earlier in the evening, 225 business leaders and sponsors of the World Leaders Forum attended a VIP reception, where they had an opportunity to network with local business and leaders, such as former Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert and former Illinois Governor Jim Edgar. During the reception, Elgin Mayor Ed Schock presented President Bush with a 100-year-old Elgin men’s pocket watch, which Schock said has more meaning since the famous watches were once produced in Elgin. Following the reception formalities, VIP guests were given the opportunity to meet and have a photo with the former president.
Main Presentation
Dr. James MacDonald, senior pastor of Harvest Bible Chapel, opens the World Leaders Forum in prayer. All photographs courtesy of Robb Davidson '08 and Kevin Sherman '09
After the VIP Reception, more than 1,300 attended the Main Presentation. A central message to the evening's main event was the value of personal principles regarding faith and freedom. In his keynote address, 43rd President of the United States George W. Bush encouraged the crowd of professionals to follow their principles.
"Principles last forever," said the President. "I say I came to Washington with a set of principles and I've left Washington with those same principles still in place."
Former President George W. Bush waves goodbye after his participation in the World Leaders Forum. All photographs courtesy of Robb Davidson '08 and Kevin Sherman '09
"Be ready to make decisions," Bush said adamantly to the group of local leaders and entrepreneurs. "A set of values that won't change is essential when leading an organization in the midst of a changing environment." After President Bush's keynote address, Judson trustee Carol Thompson moderated a formal question and answer session in which the president responded to questions from Judson students, staff and faculty.
A panel of entrepreneurs also answered questions submitted from the Judson community which were moderated by Judson's Dean of the School of Leadership and Business, Dr. Tom Berliner. Nathan Latka of Lujure Media, Lisa Canning of The Institute of Arts Entrepreneurship, and Kraig Kleeman of Blaire Group shared wisdom and guiding principles of entrepreneurship and leadership that helped them become successful.
Lisa Canning, from left, Nathan Latka and Kraig Kleeman discuss ideas with Judson's Tom Berliner during the World Leaders Forum. All photographs courtesy of Robb Davidson '08 and Kevin Sherman '09
When asked about balancing ethics and profits during the moderated question and answer session for accomplished entrepreneurs, panelist Kraig Kleeman of Blaire Group contributed to that idea stating, "Ethics versus profits is an issue on the minds of the American people since the recent economic downturn. When I think about ethics versus profits, AGI, Lehman Brothers, and many other corporate names come to mind. Greed is a catalyst for financial meltdown. Entrepreneurs can never ever trade ethics for profit. Never. Never. Never. End of story."
Event Photos
All photographs courtesy of Robb Davidson '08 and Kevin Sherman '09
Judson Promo Video
Slides about Judson