For senior Anthony Pegis, Christendom College was always there. A Virginia native from Christendom’s hometown of Front Royal, Pegis grew up literally in Christendom’s shadow, with his mother and older sister going to the school. It would have been easy for him to simply follow in his family’s footsteps, but Pegis wanted to be sure Christendom was something he wanted for himself — not simply something he found himself doing. Four years later, Pegis has found exactly what he wanted at Christendom, academically, athletically, and spiritually.
Finding His Place at Christendom
Pegis grew up with deep connections to the college. His mother graduated from Christendom in 1995, while his older sister enrolled when Pegis was a freshman in high school. Pegis, however, was determined to find his own path to Christendom — if that was ultimately where he felt called to attend.
That determination led to what Pegis jokingly calls his “rebellious two-week phase,” when he researched other faithful Catholic colleges, including Benedictine College and Thomas Aquinas College. Each had qualities he admired, but Pegis ultimately realized that Christendom offered something he could not find elsewhere. He wanted rigorous academics and competitive athletics, but above all, he wanted a college where the Catholic faith would permeate every part of his life.
“I wanted everything I was going to do in my four college years to be as Catholic as possible—be it sports, academics, and social life,” he says. “I only found this type of Catholic atmosphere at Christendom College.”
Despite his familiarity with Christendom, Pegis discovered almost immediately that attending the College was an entirely different experience from growing up around it. While Pegis had anticipated the academic rigor of a Christendom education, he had not expected the personal attention and distinctive classroom experiences fostered by the college’s faculty.
“While I knew the material and education I was going to receive would be a high-quality experience, I had no idea of the personality existing in each course’s classroom,” says Pegis. “The faculty are a huge contribution towards this, showing genuine care for your academic journey through offering frequent office hours and engaging with the classroom. Rather than simply teaching the material blindly, I have found the faculty to teach the material to the students with care for comprehension and appreciation of the course topics.”
Now a philosophy major and theology minor, Pegis credits his liberal arts education with challenging him to think more deeply about himself, others, and the world around him. One course in particular, philosophy professor Dr. Mark Wunsch’s Ethics class during his sophomore year, left a lasting impression.
“Self-reflection is necessary to grow in all areas of your life, be it spiritual, mental, or physical,” says Pegis. “Examining yourself to make sure your life’s arrow is pointed at the right target was an important theme in the class, and a principle I will never forget.”
That emphasis on personal formation would prove valuable as Pegis pursued opportunities throughout campus life. Now a senior, he has played varsity rugby and baseball, served as a Resident Assistant, joined a Stronghold, worked as a Student Ambassador, participated in the Student Activities Council, served on the Philanthropy Board, held multiple campus jobs, and spent a semester studying in Rome.
Pegis pitching for Christendom’s varsity baseball team.
The experience of competing in two varsity sports has been especially formative, teaching Pegis important lessons alongside teammates who share his Catholic faith.
“The perseverance, dedication, and discipline you build within your sports team spreads towards your academics, friendships, and any other responsibilities in your life,” says Pegis. “Virtue is contagious, and a sports team is the perfect battleground to cultivate virtue.”
Learning to Lead Through Service
Today, Pegis serves as Christendom’s Student Body President, helping lead more than 40 fellow students on the Student Activities Council. The responsibility has provided him with an opportunity to give back to the community that first welcomed him as a freshman.
For Pegis, the presidency is fundamentally a position of service. Beyond planning events, he sees his primary responsibility as helping fellow council members develop their leadership abilities and accomplish their goals.
“Helping others reach their full potential has always been a passion of mine, and through the role of Student Body President I am directly able to assist others in improving themselves and their leadership skills, and this is what attracted me to the role,” says Pegis.
That understanding of leadership is closely connected to the lessons Pegis has learned in the classroom and on the athletic field. Before he can effectively lead others, he believes he must first take responsibility for his own formation.
“Being a leader begins with your personal life,” he says. “Taking ownership of your classes, your friendships, and any commitments you have.”
The lesson has been tested by a demanding schedule filled with classes, athletics, work, friendships, and responsibilities to the student body. Pegis believes students are often capable of more than they realize.
“Everyone is capable of so much more than they allow themselves to be,” he says. “It begins with not wasting time.”
But discipline alone, he emphasizes, is not enough.
“You need a firm foundation with Christ first,” he says. “None of what I do—or anyone else, for that matter—is possible to do well and consistently without God’s grace keeping you steady and getting you right back up on your feet.”
That integration of faith with everyday life is precisely what Pegis hoped to find when he was considering colleges.
He has experienced it on the rugby pitch, where teammates share more than a love of competition. He has seen it while working alongside other students to set up and clean up campus events. And he experienced it in a profound way during his semester in Rome, where standing inside St. Peter’s Basilica brought another dimension to the Catholic Faith he had known his entire life.
Pegis with fellow classmates and President Emeritus Dr. Timothy O’Donnell in Rome.
Most of all, however, Pegis has found it in the people around him.
“The most unique thing about Christendom is the people it shapes and attracts,” Pegis says. “I have formed better friendships here than I could have formed anywhere else.”
Making Christendom His Home
As graduation approaches, Pegis is preparing for another opportunity to serve others. He plans to enter a firefighting academy in one of the counties surrounding Front Royal, hoping to build a career while remaining close to the Shenandoah Valley and the Catholic community he loves.
“I love the beauty of the Shenandoah Valley and the thriving Catholic community of Front Royal, and I would love to live here for the rest of my life,” he says.
Before graduating, however, there are still experiences he hopes to have. He wants to spend more time visiting professors during office hours and finally attend a Chester-Belloc Debate Society event.
“There are numerous opportunities available at Christendom,” he says, “and I try not to say no to an opportunity for a new experience.”
That willingness to embrace new experiences has helped define his college years. What began with a deliberate decision to attend Christendom has developed into a personal commitment to the community he now helps lead.
“Nothing makes you grow faster in responsibility and maturity than being placed in a role model position, with hundreds of other students to welcome and guide along their own college journey,” says Pegis.
For Pegis, the transformation has been profound. Christendom is no longer simply the college his mother attended, his sister chose, and his family visited throughout his childhood. Through friendships and athletics, classes and campus jobs, leadership and service, Rome and countless ordinary moments in between, Pegis has made Christendom his own.
“Whereas before Christendom was the place across the street, four years of living, welcoming, and formation has made Christendom my home.”