by Julia Harris (Graduate Student at the UVA School of Architecture/Athletic Communications Intern)

While playing on one of the best teams in the country might take up a lot of time, Meghen and Lilly Hengerer have taken advantage of all of the opportunities that the University of Virginia offers, both on and off the field.

Both completed their Bachelor’s degrees in May but weren’t quite ready to leave UVA Field Hockey.

“This team, the culture is phenomenal,” Lilly said.

“We love Ole as a coach, and one more year to play under him is an unbelievable opportunity,” Meghen said. “And getting a master’s from the University of Virginia is almost as good as it gets.”

Both are enrolled in the School of Education & Human Development, where they are working towards master’s degrees in higher education. According to U.S. News and World Report, the UVA School of Education & Human Development is ranked No. 8 among the best graduate schools of education in the country.

The M.Ed. program allows students to choose their own specialization within higher education, including Higher Education Administration, Student Affairs, Intercollegiate Athletics Administration, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, and Assessment. This is supported by the three core principles that the program focuses on: Theoretical Foundations, Principles of Practice, and Reflective Professional Experience, which involve professional internships that lead to successful work in specialized functional areas of higher education.

Although student-athletes aren’t required to complete internships as part of the program, Meghen and Lily are taking full advantage of the internship program, viewing it as “an opportunity to get ready for once [their] athletic careers are over.” The internships are also a way for them to give back to the Virginia Community.

The M.Ed. program facilitates these internship opportunities for students, coordinating with local institutions and university offices to provide a variety of opportunities. These have included opportunities with the Athletics Compliance Office, Athletic Academic Affairs, Batten School, Career Center, Darden Graduate Business School, School of Data Science, Dean of Students Office, School of Engineering and Applied Science, Judicial Affairs Office, Madison House Volunteer Programs, Maxine Platzer Lynn Women’s Center, and many more. These direct connections give University of Virginia student-athletes opportunities that may not have been available or as easily accessible without the University.

The program has allowed Meghen and Lilly to have different experiences, with Meghen working with a local institution outside of the University and Lilly working within the University.

Meghen is working with Madison House, an independent volunteer center for students at the University of Virginia as a graduate advising fellow.

“I wanted to get involved, because on our team, we preach community service and giving back to the community. I just love being a part of a community and a part of a bigger purpose than just an individual,” Meghen said.

Madison House is involved with all aspects of volunteering, including coordination, developing leaders, and building community partnerships. Programs are organized into four tracks: Animals & Environment, Education & Youth, Health & Medical, and Human Services, allowing students to make an impact through many different avenues. Meghen’s main roles include coordinating student volunteers, helping student leaders set priorities, and organizing information sessions for current and future volunteers.

Lilly also uses her internship experience to give back to her community, working with the UVA’s athletic academic affairs team. Gaining insight into everything that goes on behind the scenes to create such an amazing student-athlete experience, Lilly “wanted to be able to give that back to other student-athletes, and being a part of that has been really awesome.”

Like Lilly and Meghen, most students interning with the athletic academic affairs team are student-athletes in the higher education program, including former volleyball player Veresia Yon and softball alumna Ashley Jennings in the past. Lilly’s main roles include ensuring student-athletes know academic opportunities across Grounds.

Her work helps guide student-athletes through their academic careers at the University, particularly those earlier in their careers. This includes organizing a Majors Fair for first and second-year student-athletes to inform them of different majors offered and coordinating academic information sessions for majors with applications such as the Batten School, McIntire School of Commerce, and Kinesiology Department. She also helps keep the team running by tracking volunteer hours, compiling data, and updating various systems.

While many other student-athletes have completed summer internships or jobs, Lilly and Meghen are some of the few balancing school, field hockey, and an internship simultaneously.

“I think it’s taught us how open communication, especially with our coaches and with our bosses, can make our lives a lot easier and how effective that can be,” said Meghen.

Although it is no easy task, the willingness of both the coaching staff and their respective internship programs to work together has been a key factor in their success thus far. Ellen Cook, the director of student development for Virginia Athletics, has taken note of their focus and hard work.

“Lilly and Meghen are impressive student-athletes to be balancing all that is on their plates,” Cook said. “They represent the field hockey program well in the work they do for their internships, and I trust that they are learning about what higher education looks like in practice.”

Although this will be their last season competing for the Virginia field hockey program, Meghen and Lilly don’t plan on stopping their involvement with field hockey just yet. Both want to stay involved in athletics at some level.

Lilly “wants to stay within the athletic kind of world” and plans to go into athletic administration, while Meghen “really wants to try to go the coaching route.” Whichever route they choose to go, it is clear that Meghen & Lilly are well prepared for their careers after UVA.