The nationwide Morgan’s Message Club has finally surfaced at Pembroke High School. As a national non-profit club that strives to de-stigmatize mental health challenges within the student athlete community, sophomore Mackenzie Mikkola has taken initiative and implemented this club into the school's extracurricular activities. Mikkola was inspired herself to start this club. 

Mikkola said, “I heard about Morgan’s message, and at the time my friend was hurt… I was inspired to advocate for mental health with athletes, being one myself.” 

She recruited Katie Eakins, Pembroke High School’s Athletics Administrative Assistant, to be her advisor.

 Eakins has said, “Honestly, Kenzie has done this all, being the force behind this entire club being started. It was her idea, she went to Mr. Rix for approval, she came to me to be her advisor, and here we are… I stood behind her as more guidance than anything but she did it all.” 

When asking Mikkola what Morgan’s Message stemmed from, she explains, “It’s a club where we spread awareness of the importance of mental health and end the stigma surrounding it!” 

For context, a student-athlete named Morgan, who pursued her dreams of playing Division 1 lacrosse at Duke University, suffered a dream-shattering knee injury. Morgan therefore began to experience anxiety and depression and unfortunately committed suicide on July 11, 2019, just at the age of 22. 

Although Morgan’s life was cut way too short, her legacy is the reason why more schools raise awareness about mental health for athletes. For Mikkola, she already has a future plan. 

Mikkola said, “When I leave, I’m going to give it to my younger sister Lainey. We started with girls basketball, but I’m going to do lacrosse soon, and both at least lacrosse and basketball every year.”

Senior lacrosse Captain, Ally Richardson, said, “I am excited to see where this club goes and I think it’s great what Kenzie started up. I think she will be having a Morgan’s Message lacrosse game, so I am excited to be a part of that!” 

On February 2, the Girls Basketball hosted a Morgan’s Message game where Mikkola gave a short dedication speech before the game, the team wore shirts, hung up posters, and had decorations in the gym. Mikkola now looks forward to hosting more Morgan's Message dedication games, but this was just the start.