Number of Participants: 15
Hours Donated: 6
Value of Time Served: $761
Event Type: Health & Safety
Activity: Girls Lacrosse
School: North Rockland High School
Date: May 2, 2025
Location:
North Rockland High School
Hammond Road, Thiells
NY
About:
This spring, North Rockland High School hosted its first-ever Morgan’s Message dedication game, marking a powerful moment in the school’s ongoing efforts to support student-athlete mental health. At the heart of the initiative is Acadia Scanlon, a junior at North Rockland and the starting goalie for the girls varsity lacrosse team. Acadia is the founder of the school’s Morgan’s Message club, an organization dedicated to destigmatizing mental health struggles among student-athletes.
The idea for the club was born out of Acadia’s research project in her AP Seminar course the previous year. Her topic, Mental Health in Sports: Breaking the Stigma, led her to discover Morgan’s Message, an organization named in honor of Morgan Rodgers, a former Division I lacrosse player at Duke University who tragically died by suicide in 2019. Rodgers’ story resonated deeply with Acadia, who identified with her as both a high-achieving student and committed athlete. Understanding firsthand the mental pressures that come with balancing academics and athletics, Acadia was inspired to bring Morgan’s Message to her own school community.
With the support of North Rockland’s athletic director, school administrators, Coach Borchers, and a dedicated advisor, Acadia successfully established the Morgan’s Message club this year. The goal: to raise awareness around student-athlete mental health and create a supportive space for her peers.
On May 3, North Rockland’s girls varsity lacrosse team hosted its inaugural Morgan’s Message dedication game against New Rochelle. The event was a powerful show of unity and compassion, drawing support from across the school community. Players from both teams wore Morgan’s Message bracelets and matching ribbons, with custom t-shirts worn during warmups and sold at the event—selling out in just 20 minutes. Posters and decorations filled the stands, while the team’s photo alongside the Morgan’s Message logo lit up the scoreboard. The sense of shared purpose was undeniable.
Among those in attendance were the district superintendent and members of the school board, joining students, coaches, and staff in a shared commitment to spreading the message that no one should suffer in silence. The event raised meaningful donations for both the national organization and the local school club.
What stood out most about the night was the energy—one of unity, purpose, and hope. It was a team effort in every sense, and a clear sign that the conversation around mental health in sports is growing stronger at North Rockland, thanks to the leadership of students like Acadia Scanlon.
