First founded in the fall of 2022 by current Seniors Cecily North and Elena Gobena, Morgan’s Message chapter for Green Level High School has vastly expanded in club membership and community involvement. Targeted to end the stigma surrounding mental health, this organization was created on behalf of Duke University’s student-athlete Morgan Rodgers, who was an avid member of the University’s lacrosse program. Morgan combatted mental health throughout her life and tragically lost her battle to such on July 11, 2019.
Initially accommodating nearly 35 members in the fall of 2022, this club has grown immensely in membership, now hosting bi-monthly meetings with over 100 active members. Alongside this notion, the club had the opportunity to host its inaugural dedication game against the women’s lacrosse team of Apex Friendship this past spring. In large part, this assisted in enhancing the outreach of the foundation, as well as aided in countering predispositions surrounding mental health. Virtually 120 women’s lacrosse players came together to represent this cause, from both the JV and Varsity levels.
The club has hosted two meetings thus far for the 2024-2025 school year. As for ways to become more involved, Senior and co-club president Cecily North emphasizes, “This year we are working towards hosting more dedication games. As a whole organization, we are working on making more tools and materials that clubs and different teenagers can access so we can educate the public more on the topic of mental health.” Traditionally meetings take place on Wednesdays. Students should consider taking action for this cause and joining this impassioned club as a device to support their community, have an opportunity to familiarize themselves with mental health, and become alert to signs of struggle throughout their peer population.
Upon being prompted about her involvement and introduction to the organization she states, “I found Morgan’s Message through a Duke women’s lacrosse game I was attending. I noticed the butterfly patches on their uniforms. I had the opportunity to ask one of the athlete’s family members what those represented. It was really special for me to see the organization firsthand.” Feeling immensely inspired by the mission of Morgan’s Message, North began her own chapter that falls at Green Level and has since instilled a lasting impact throughout Green Level’s student culture and athletics program.
To further broaden the outreach, Cecily denotes starting a Morgan’s Message chapter, or joining an existing one upon attending a four-year college in the fall of 2025, further signifying the ability of student-lead clubs to create lasting influences on our communities, as well as lasting relationships contrived throughout such. The most rewarding aspect of being a leader for such an impactful organization, as discerned by Senior Cecily North is, “Getting to see all the people who felt impacted by the cause come out, as well as individuals coming together to work towards one common goal.”
