Morgan’s Message is returning to Wilkes University this spring, bringing renewed conversation and awareness around student-athlete mental health. After a previous attempt to establish the organization on campus did not come to fruition, sophomore Katie Clarke of the Wilkes women’s soccer team has taken the lead to officially relaunch the club, hoping to create a space for honest dialogue, support, and understanding among student athletes.
Morgan’s Message is a national nonprofit organization decided to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health within the student-athlete community. Founded in honor of Morgan Rodgers, a former Division I lacrosse player at Duke University, the organization works to amplify conversations around mental wellness and remind athletes that they are more than just their performance.
Chapters across the country aim to create peer-led spaces where vulnerability is normalized and help-seeking is encouraged.
Clarke said her motivation to bring Morgan’s Message to Wilkes stemmed from recognizing how often student athletes struggle quietly. Balancing academics, athletics, social expectations, and personal challenges can feel overwhelming, yet many athletes feel pressure to appear mentally tough at all times.
“Our goals are to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health,” Clarke said. “And I think that this organization, our goal is to normalize having all these feelings. It’s okay to have anxiety, working through these things.”
Clarke emphasized that Morgan’s Message is not intended to replace professional mental health services. Instead, the organization focuses on peer support and awareness, helping student athletes feel less alone in their experiences.
“We’re not mental health experts whatsoever,” she said. “This is just about creating conversation and letting people know they’re not weak for feeling the way they do.”
A central symbol of Morgan’s Message is its butterfly logo, which Clarke explained carries deep meaning tied to Morgan Rodgers herself. Rodgers was not only an athlete, but also an artist, and the butterfly originated from her artwork.
“Our butterfly logo was a part of Morgan’s art,” Clarke said. “While she was an athlete, she was also an artist, and that’s something I want to focus on, possibly a meeting topic–as student athletes, we’re not just athletes. Our identity is defined by more than that.”
This idea of identity beyond sports is something Clarke hopes will resonate across Wilkes’ athletic community. She stressed that regardless of division level, student athletes face similar pressures and challenges.
“I think the other thing is, no matter what division we play for, we are student athletes nonetheless,” she said.
Morgan’s Message at Wilkes has already reached an important milestone, as the organization was officially recognized by Wilkes’ Student Government as an approved campus club. With that recognition, the club will be able to host events, meetings, and awareness initiatives throughout the semester.
The organization will make its first official campus appearance at Club Day on Jan. 27, 2026, held in the JPAC, located on the second floor of the Henry Student Center. Students interested in learning more about Morgan’s Message will have the opportunity to speak with members, ask questions, and get involved.
The club’s first meeting is also scheduled for Jan. 27, 2026, and will take place in the Hall of Fame Room in the Martz Center. Clarke said she hopes the meeting will serve as an introduction to the organization’s mission and create a welcoming environment for athletes from all teams.
By reintroducing Morgan’s Message to Wilkes, Clarke hopes to chip away at the stigma that often surrounds mental health in athletics and encourage student athletes to prioritize their well-being alongside their performance.
More information about Morgan’s Message can be found on the organization’s official website or on Instagram at @morgans_message_wilkes. Students interested in joining or learning more are encouraged to attend Club Day or the first meeting later this month.