Two prominent student-led organizations at Lakewood High School are seeking financial support to expand their programs. Morgan’s Message, a club dedicated to promoting mental health awareness in sports, and the Academic Challenge team have both submitted applications for grants from the student council’s club funding program.
The club grants reflect the student council’s wider goal of promoting student engagement in school activities. Mock Trial, Model UN, and Chinese Club have also submitted applications that are currently under review.
Morgan’s Message Lakewood chapter was established last year by student Vashti Arrow. The club is in memory of Morgan Rodgers, a Duke Women’s lacrosse player who struggled with depression before taking her own life. The club’s mission is to raise awareness about mental health issues affecting young athletes and students by fostering open conversations and providing peer support to athletes and students who may be struggling.
“Many students face mental health challenges but don’t always know where to turn,” Arrow said. “Our goal is to create a safe environment for students to express themselves and access resources. The grant would help us organize workshops and these resources to reach more students.”
The club has already come up with several initiatives, with their main goal in the spring season being to host dedication games for each sport in memory of Rodgers. Arrow hopes to use the requested funding to develop educational materials, host larger events, and collaborate with local mental health organizations to expand its reach.
While Morgan’s Message focuses on mental health and awareness, the Academic Challenge team—led by students and advised by art teacher Autumn Sabin—focuses on academic excellence and competitive problem-solving. The club prepares students for regional, state, and national contests in subjects ranging from mathematics to art history.
“Our focus is on encouraging students to develop their critical thinking and teamwork skills,” Sabin said. “We organize practice competitions, problem-solving workshops, and team-building activities to help students prepare for upcoming academic tournaments.”
The Academic Challenge team has competed successfully in regional competitions, sending one student to nationals last year, and aims to strengthen its resources with the grant funds. The requested funding would help cover registration fees for tournaments and their own buzzer system for competitions and practices.
“Not having a buzzer system just means we aren’t practicing very effectively,” said Cora Barcelona, an Academic Challenge member and the Student Body Publicist. “We just smack our hands on the table instead of buzzing in, which would be present in real competition, so it leads to confusion when answering questions.”
Both organizations recognize the importance of financial support to sustain their activities and expand their impact. They hope that with additional support, their clubs can make a lasting impact on the school community.
“Whether it’s raising awareness about mental health or putting the money towards getting shirts for whole sports teams to foster awareness,” Arrow said. “We’re grateful for the chance to apply for this funding and build a foundation as a new club.”
As the Lakewood High School student council continues its application reviews, these clubs continue to strive for their goals and exemplify the diverse interests and leadership potential of the student body. Their efforts contribute to a vibrant school culture rooted in support, achievement, and community service.
The student council plans to announce the grant recipients next month.
