“Bring humility to everything. Character is everything. There is no substitute for hard work.”
This advice from Public Policy Prof. Charles Pede guided Jack Comegno III ’24 of Moorestown, New Jersey, during his four years at Gettysburg College. Pede’s challenge, issued to him and the members of his Advanced Public Policy class to uphold personal convictions and serve others to the best of your ability, has guided Comegno in his academics, relationships with others, and professional ambitions.
“Living through those words has gained me success,” he said. “[Gen. Pede] helped me find my passion in what I’m going to be doing after Gettysburg—going to law school through the military.”
From his early days on campus, Comegno saw a community he could relate to in Gettysburg, one where he could envision himself among its people and programs. Following in the footsteps of his parents—John Comegno II ’94, P’24 and Marsha Hoffman Comegno ’94, P’24, the latter serving on the College’s Board of Trustees since 2014—he explored new ways of thinking, met new people, pursued diverse coursework, and declared an individual major in leadership and administration in national security.
Each year, Comegno worked hard, like Pede advised, putting into practice the breadth and depth of knowledge and the enduring skills he was developing at Gettysburg through his academics, co-curricular activities, and an impactful study abroad experience.
Embracing change, growing confidence at Gettysburg
During the fall of his junior year, Comegno studied abroad in Provence in the south of France. While it initially seemed daunting, he entered the opportunity with an open mind. He explored the skill of intercultural fluency by absorbing and immersing himself in his host family’s culture, which broadened his appreciation of world cultures, including language and customs. When his parents visited him in France, he recalled his mom tearing up as she witnessed his growth in confidence and leadership when they toured where he was living and studying.
“[My host father and I] had a lot of discussions about life and humanity,” he reflected. “The biggest thing I took away from those long discussions was that the world has many problems, but the universe has many solutions.”
Finding solutions to challenges has been central to his experiences at Gettysburg. His class, which graduates this May, entered Gettysburg amid the COVID-19 pandemic in the fall of 2020. During that semester, Comegno stepped into a leadership role as class president, serving as a voice for his classmates during what was an untraditional beginning to college. He communicated student concerns and voiced questions to the College’s leadership, while also focusing on fostering connections among his classmates.
In partnership with Gettysburg faculty and staff, Comegno discovered ways to remind his classmates that Gettysburg is their home, including sending packages of Servo cookies to remote students across the country. He also looked for opportunities to remind his classmates about the Gettysburg traditions that connect them all, such as Servo Thanksgiving, the International Food Festival, and the First-Year Walk, which took place in September 2021 for the Class of 2024.
The culmination of these leadership experiences throughout his four years at Gettysburg has given Comegno tremendous confidence in his abilities through continually embracing change.
The spirit to serve
Reflecting on his role as class president, Comegno said being viewed as a leader, a person someone can turn to, gave him a feeling of purpose. He also answered the call to serve by participating in ROTC (Reserve Officers’ Training Corps) at Gettysburg. After graduating from Gettysburg, he plans to serve as a U.S. Army lawyer following law school.
“I’ve always looked after others and cared for others,” he said. “Serving as class president, I was an advisor and a helping hand all rolled into one.”
“What differentiates a Gettysburg College student from another college student is how involved they are. We foster a passion and gain expertise. That’s what A Consequential Education is all about. It’s about experiences—and being able to use those experiences to serve others afterward.”
– Jack Comegno ’24
Through his academic, co-curricular, and study abroad experiences, Comegno believes the skills he’s developed will help him shape his own life of consequence after Commencement. He advises current and future Gettysburg students to get involved and serve others, just like Gen. Pede encouraged him to do.
“Seeing how much faculty, staff, and the administration care about the individual student and the student experience on campus, … Gettysburg is a place where you can get involved, find your passion, take classes that you’re interested in, and be excited about them,” Comegno said. “Take advantage of the opportunities in front of you.
“What differentiates a Gettysburg College student from another college student is how involved they are,” he continued. “We foster a passion and gain expertise. That’s what A Consequential Education is all about. It’s about experiences—and being able to use those experiences to serve others afterward.”
By Michael Vyskocil
Posted: 05/07/24
