Meet Denice Randle

Whitworth Cadre Two
'07 Graduate (B.A. English)
Lakes High School '01

A change in plans

When a lady at her church handed Denice Randle a brochure about the Act Six program at Whitworth College, her response was, "It didn't seem to line up with what I was feeling [at that time]." Denice was a community college student with her heart set on transferring to a Historically Black College or University, and then eventually serving in a predominantly black low income community. Originally from Lexington, Mississippi, Denice knew that there was a lot of work to be done in the south, and as an emerging passionate leader, she believed that pursuing education in the black community would bring her one step closer to doing her part. Despite her seemingly solid plan, Denice began the application process for the Act Six program.

A divine revelation

When she first visited Whitworth, Denice was startled to discover that she was immediately convinced that this is where she was meant to be. "I really felt the presence of God on the Whitworth campus, in the program and within the visions of the students involved," she says, remembering her visit as a semi-finalist. Responding to that revelation, Denice followed through with the application process, accepted the scholarship, and transferred to Whitworth.

Challenging others

Since being at Whitworth, Denice has not only been further impressed by the education and personal care she receives from staff and faculty, but she has, in turn, impressed the Whitworth Community with her developing confidence to challenge others to consider change as well. In personal relationships, she has encouraged those around her to ask tough questions and consider changing their current views. In her job as the Senior Class Coordinator, Denice admits, "I have been going against the norm in terms of what has been done in the past," including changing the current Commencement format for class speakers in effort to ensure that good topics are chosen over the popularity of individuals.

Entering the real world

Graduated from Whitworth with a Bachelor's in English Language Arts, Denice has been accepted to the Master's-in-Teaching program at Pacific Lutheran University. "I feel that I can be a useful tool in the community by empowering students through helping to improve their spoken and written language skills." In the future, Denice also hopes for an opportunity to work with Dr. John Perkins—one of the community development leaders she most admires—in Jackson, Mississippi before returning to Tacoma. "I want to get that community experience so I can have something real to bring to the classroom," she says referring to her desire to temporarily live and work in Mississippi.

God has the final word

Denice's long term goal is to become a principal in the Tacoma School District, but from experience, she knows that a plan that remains open to whatever it is that God may have for her, is a plan that will take her the farthest.

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