University of Richmond junior brings a commitment to service to Richmond College Student Government Association
Senior Kate Chasin interviewed junior CJ Blastos last month shortly after he was elected president of the Richmond College Student Government Association (RCSGA). What follows are excerpts from their interview.
Q: Why did you join RCSGA as a first-year student, and why have you continued to serve?
A: I heard about RCSGA during orientation. As a political science and leadership studies major, I wanted to do something based in community service, to give back to the campus body, and to set myself up for a career in public service. RCSGA seemed like the most direct way to achieve that.
Q: You've done a lot of service projects on campus. What made you want to take the next step to run for RCSGA president?
A: Running for president seemed like a natural extension of the love I'd poured into everything I'd done on RCSGA. Serving as president will place the greatest multiplier on what I can give back to campus. You don’t do these things for the title; it’s about the service.
Q: In June 2025, you received the Congressional Award Gold Medal, Congress’ highest honor for youth. To earn this recognition, you logged hundreds of hours in public service, personal development, and physical fitness and completed a solo cross-country car trip. How did this experience change the way you think about leadership?
A: I've heard leadership described this way: Good leaders are like the tide in a harbor. When people practice good leadership, it elevates the tide for all boats. The community service projects taught me the value of working alongside the people you advocate for and represent. As a high school freshman beginning the Congressional Award program, I remember thinking: By the time I graduate, I’ll be less interested in people remembering my name or what I did than in the experiences people will have that will shape their characteristics and what they do. You do your best to ‘be the change you wish to see in the world.’
Q: How did going through the process to earn the medal bring that idea to the forefront?
A: I am openly Christian and believe I've been profoundly blessed by the Lord with certain attributes that he's given me for a deliberate purpose. I've had my experiences for a specific reason, and I want to forward that to other people so they can attain their goals. I want to be their tide.
Q: Did you know coming into University of Richmond that you wanted to major in leadership studies?
A: No, Dr. Julian Hayter’s exceptional Leadership 101 class persuaded me.
Q: How have your education and experiences informed your leadership roles on campus?
A: Much of leadership is about collaborating with others and seeing how to structure power in groups to maximize benefit. Leadership is also about compromise, while still having allegiance to your core values. My dad says, “Give concessions to gain consensus.” The more I think about that statement, the more I understand how well it encapsulates leadership. Leadership is about empowering followers and collaborators to make contributions. When everybody agrees on the same principles, the best ideas come to the surface.
Q: Do you know what you want to do after graduation?
A: The goal has always been public service. We need leaders who stand on principles and convictions, while being open to dialogue, discussion, and compromise. I’m extraordinarily blessed to be in the spot I am in. We have a wonderful student body, facilities, and staff. I am looking to be a good public servant and steward of the campus and forward that onto others.