Stick Skills and Service: A Winning Combination

Emily Dorko — March 29, 2026

In 2015, NCAA Division II changed its moniker from “I chose Division II” to “Make it Yours.” Rory Meehan was eight years old.

Little did she know that over a decade later, she would be fulfilling that Division II prophecy as a member of the nationally ranked and nine-time champion Adelphi Women’s Lacrosse team. Rory is currently a sophomore for a Panthers program that has reached the NCAA Division II National Championship game in each of the last two seasons.

Growing up, Rory was actively involved in her community. Whether it was volunteering at town events or activities through her parish, giving back just seemed to be part of her growth. All while playing soccer, volleyball, basketball and lacrosse.

When she got to Mineola High School, her passion for service did not end — it grew.

“I was always very involved with our RISE (Reaching Independence through Structured Education) program, which is dedicated to special education and students with disabilities. I have a huge tie to that program and spent lunch periods and after-school hours with those students all throughout my time at Mineola,” Rory said.

During her junior year, Rory chose to focus her AP Research project on increasing awareness inside of education. Rather than helping neurodiverse individuals — those whose brains function differently from the societal norm — adapt to neurotypical environments, her focus was the inverse: educating neurotypical students on how to better interact with and accommodate their neurodiverse peers.

That same school year, she also started a book club aimed at educating students and raising awareness, an experience that helped spark her growing passion for the work.

“That was the moment I remember saying, ‘I’m really invested in this.’”

Ironically enough, the advisor for the RISE program is fellow Panther Hilary Pavels, a former Adelphi volleyball student-athlete who graduated in 2011.

“Rory was the gold standard for what a Physical Education Leader should be during her time at Mineola High School. She is truly the total package and someone who didn’t just meet expectations but redefined them. As a standout in our PE Leaders program, she consistently impressed me with her rare combination of elite athleticism and sharp intelligence,” Pavels said.

“What truly sets Rory apart, however, is the person she is behind the stats and the grades; she possesses immense integrity and kindness. She is a natural-born leader, a selfless volunteer, and quite simply, one of the most remarkable students I’ve had the privilege to work with,” she went on to say.

Upon arriving at Adelphi, Rory wasted no time getting involved and hopes that her efforts will pave the way for more student-athletes to do the same.

When she is not involved with the women’s lacrosse team, Rory is participating in events that her fellow Panthers put together, while also coming up with her own.

This year, she has been tabbed as the chair of the Adelphi Community Service subcommittee within the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). She hopes to take on an even larger role next year.

It is a busy schedule, but one that is very much worth it.

“I wish people would understand the feeling that giving back can give. Not a lot of people value the opportunities that we have here, and I think helping our community in any way is important,” Rory said.

“Aside from helping others, it comes down to helping yourself grow as a person.”

So, what does it mean to Rory to ‘make it hers’?

“A big part of my experience here [at Adelphi] has been the extra things I can do. I’m not just playing lacrosse here, even though [being an athlete] is my passion and my why right now. It’s opened so many doors for me,” the sophomore midfielder said about her service projects.

“The extra connections I’ve made here, by doing the extra things, have changed this whole experience for me.”

Being a high-level lacrosse student-athlete has its commitments — practice, lifts, travel, gamedays, and more — but being involved off the field is paving the way for Rory to become a well-rounded political science major upon graduating in 2028.

It also challenges her in new ways.

“There’s not many things on the lacrosse field that can fuel my creativity. But in these outside projects — SAAC, Morgan’s Message — I think the value of being in Division II allows for freedom inside of structure.”

Growing up, people pegged Rory as a future doctor, which — to her — seemed more of an academic validation due to loving science and research, but it wasn’t necessarily what her heart was telling her to do. When it was decided that the family needed a lawyer, she turned to pursuing a political science degree — but on her own terms.

“When I know I am right, I will make it known that I am right. I think being involved with helping people made me realize that I can do it in a way that makes an impact on their life or in their situation. Having the power to help people through the law and being there in a bigger way than just support drove me to this point,” Rory said.

While she has her sights set on making an impact off the field, Rory has already experienced plenty of success on it. She started 17 games a season ago, which helped Adelphi win the Northeast 10 Conference title — their first since the 2017 season and eighth overall.

Looking ahead, Rory hopes to build stronger connections between everyday students on campus and the student-athlete community — while also helping the Panthers make another run to the Final Four.