Josh Pabst and Megan Lovar have been named Christendom's Thomas S. Vander Woude Athletic Scholarship winners for the Class of 2026. Recognized for their athletic ability and how they have showed Christ-like leadership and heartfelt service through sports and in the classroom, both Pabst and Lovar will play "for the love of the game and the glory of God" when they arrive on campus this fall.

Christendom's Thomas S. Vander Woude scholar-athlete scholarship is named after the college's late Director of Athletics who sacrificed his life for his son in 2008. Since his passing, the college has awarded incoming freshmen student-athletes with the scholarship, continuing Vander Woude's legacy of forming student-athletes into Christ-like leaders both in sports and in the classroom.

In the case of Lovar, she first heard about Christendom thanks to her grandparents, who noticed the college's new Christ the King Chapel under construction while they were traveling on Interstate 66. This chance encounter led to Lovar eventually visiting the college and attending the Best Week Ever high school summer program.

A native of Odenton, Maryland, Megan Lovar has played soccer since the age of 5 and looks forward to continuing competing in the sport she loves as a Thomas S. Vander Woude Athletic Scholarship winner this fall.

"I enjoyed the classes and was impressed with the professors and the students I met that week," recalls Lovar. "Their joy and passion for learning was refreshing."

A native of Odenton, Maryland, Lovar has been homeschooled her whole life. Since the age of five, she has played soccer and looks forward to continuing competing in the sport she loves as a Thomas S. Vander Woude Athletic Scholarship winner this fall.

"Playing soccer at Christendom will allow me to continue to compete in a game I love," says Lovar, who also plans to major in either history or classics. "I'm excited to play on a team that lives out their faith on the field, as that is something which I have never experienced. I was particularly drawn to Christendom throughout my college search because of the authentically Catholic atmosphere which penetrates every aspect of the school. I know I'll be challenged academically, spiritually, and physically, and I can't wait to get started this fall."

Like Lovar, Pabst fell in love with Christendom after attending the Best Week Ever summer program. Hailing from Mesa, Arizona, Pabst attended Ville de Marie Academy, a Catholic liberal arts school, for his high school education and desired to continue that form of education in college. Christendom proved to be the best fit, both academically and athletically.

Josh Pabst attended Ville de Marie Academy, a Catholic liberal arts school, for his high school education and desired to continue that form of education in college.

"I am very interested in studying and competing at Christendom because I think that this school holds the best perspective on competition that I have seen at any college," says Pabst. "Our faith really is the center of everything and that is what makes the program more compelling than anywhere else."

Pabst played four varsity sports in high school, including soccer, golf, and basketball — even becoming a state champion runner-up in basketball this year. He will bring that skill and competitive spirit to Christendom this fall as he looks to fulfill the athletic department's motto: "for the love of the game and the glory of God."

"In going to play basketball at Christendom, I hope to not only grow in my athletic ability and trust in my teammates and coaches, but also to grow in my faith life as a man and grow in trust in God," concludes Pabst.