(ELGIN, IL—May 16, 2025)— Over 200 community members, civic leaders, and church leaders attended Judson’s Annual Community Prayer Breakfast held this morning, May 16 in the Lindner Fitness Center. Attendees heard a message from Distinguished Nurse, Professor, and Author, Dr. Elizabeth Johnston Taylor, on being God’s co-workers and living a life of loving service based on the scripture passage of 1 Corinthians 3:1-11.
Community leaders joined together in prayer and fellowship during the event as Judson University recognized and honored the contributions of volunteers in the Fox Valley Community, including the 2025 D. Ray Wilson Volunteer Service Award Recipient, Audrey Reed ‘68, and the 2025 Bea Wilson Youth Volunteer Service Award recipient, Dyllan Kolinen.
Judson University also had the distinct honor of presenting retired former President of the Fox Valley Broadcasting Company, Richard Jakle, with the Presidential Award for Exceptional Achievement. This award is one of the most significant honors Judson University may bestow and recognizes individuals who share Judson University’s faith values and have made significant accomplishments and contributions in their personal, professional, or spiritual life, or given of themselves through community service.
Mr. Rick Jakle is a retired businessman, banker, broadcaster as well as a professional speaker, health care and community leader and commercial pilot who served as Chairman of the Board of a $126 million bank and a $195 million hospital while owning and operating a group of radio stations from Illinois to Las Vegas. He has also been well received as an emcee at numerous Judson University events and is past President of Professional Speakers of Illinois and has been recognized with the prestigious Annual Chicagoland Communications & Leadership Award. Rick Jakle reflects Judson University’s vision of “Shaping Lives that Shape the World” through his faith, his personal life and his professional endeavors.
Judson University gives a special thank you to 2025 Prayer Breakfast Sponsors who helped make this event possible!
ABOUT JUDSON UNIVERSITY
Judson University is a fully accredited, private Christian institution representing the Church at work in higher education. Nestled along the beautiful Fox River in Elgin, Ill., just 40 miles northwest of Chicago, Judson is home to more than 1,200 students from 37 states and 20 countries. Judson offers degrees in more than 65 different majors and minors for traditional, graduate and adult students and ranks consistently among the Best Regional Universities in the Midwest by U.S. News & World Report. Judson has also been recognized as a “Christian College of Distinction.” With an academically challenging environment and encouraging spiritual community, Judson shapes lives that shape the world.
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