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UNF Mednexus selects four high school teams for 2026 dcps challenge

Four high school girls holding big check 2025 DCPS Innovation Challenge Winners

October 13, 2026

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. Four Duval County Public Schools student teams will develop innovative approaches to opioid awareness through the second annual UNF MedNexus DCPS Innovation Challenge.

Selected from 45 applications representing eight high schools, teams from Mandarin High School, Jean Ribault High School, Stanton College Preparatory School and Paxon School for Advanced Studies will work with University of North Florida faculty mentors before presenting their ideas at a public pitch competition on Nov. 12.

This year’s theme, “Friends First: Early Action for Opioid Awareness,” challenges students to develop solutions that help young people recognize early warning signs of opioid misuse, respond appropriately and connect their peers with support.

“Opportunities like the UNF MedNexus Innovation Challenge allow our students to take what they are learning and apply it to issues that affect their own generation,” said Paula Renfro, Chief Academic Officer for Duval County Public Schools. “Our students bring valuable perspectives and tremendous creativity to the table, and we are excited to see the ideas they develop when given the opportunity, mentorship and resources to turn those ideas into action.” 

The four selected teams are:

  • Mandarin High School: Genevieve Fiorentino, Ayla Puscar, Summer Foster and Kennedy Sheperd. Faculty coach: Rachel Riggs-Achorn, Ph.D., assistant professor in UNF’s School of Communication.
  • Jean Ribault High School: Kendall-Elise Owens, Je’naria Wanton-Boynton, Angel Rountree and Marquese Holder. Faculty coach: Samuel Mathies, M.A., associate instructor in UNF’s School of Communication.
  • Stanton College Preparatory School: Ishika Doma, Nishka Parikh, Chaitra Suranani and Ankavi Kabilan. Faculty coach: Stephanie Hooper, MPH, instructor of public health at UNF.
  • Paxon School for Advanced Studies: Salet Rodriguez-Peña, Sailet Rodriguez, Angelo Abinuman and Adrian Goodman. Faculty coach: Cristy Cummings, Ph.D., MSW program director and associate professor in UNF’s Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work.

With guidance from their faculty coaches, teams will research the issue, refine their concepts and prepare to present to a panel of healthcare, education, business and community leaders. The experience will help students strengthen their skills in problem-solving, teamwork, research and public speaking while exploring pathways into college and healthcare-connected careers.

“Partnerships like this connect university expertise with the creativity of young people and the commitment of community leaders,” said Julie Williams Merten, Ph.D., executive director of UNF MedNexus. “Together with Duval County Public Schools, we are giving students the mentorship and opportunity to turn their ideas into solutions that support their peers, strengthen community health and help them envision their own futures.”

The final pitch competition will take place Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the MedNexus Innovation Exchange inside FSCJ Deerwood Center, 9911 Old Baymeadows Road, Jacksonville. Jacksonville City Council member Ron Salem will serve as emcee. Students, families, educators and community partners are encouraged to attend.

“As a community, we have a responsibility to give our young people every opportunity to succeed and every tool available to help them make the right choices. The UNF MedNexus Innovation Challenge does both. It challenges students to confront a difficult issue, encourages them to think creatively, and connects them with mentors who can help turn their ideas into action,” said Councilman Salem.

Separate scholarship opportunity for eligible DCPS seniors

MedNexus will also hold the MedNexus Future Healthcare Scholarship Drawing during the Nov. 12 event. This random drawing is separate from the Innovation Challenge, and students do not need to be members of a competing team to participate.

To be eligible for the drawing, students must preregister through the scholarship website and be present for the entire pitch competition, from 5 to 7 p.m.

Five provisional recipients will be selected from eligible DCPS seniors who plan to attend UNF and pursue an approved healthcare-connected major. Each renewable scholarship provides up to $2,500 per academic year for as many as four academic years, beginning in fall 2027, for a maximum value of $10,000 per recipient.

“We want talented students across Duval County to see a future for themselves at UNF,” said Karen B. Patterson, Ph.D., executive vice president and provost of UNF. “These scholarships can help make that future more accessible, connecting students with an education that prepares them for meaningful careers and opportunities to contribute to the health of our region.”

To preregister and review the eligibility requirements, approved major list and complete drawing rules, visit unf.edu/UNFmednexus/mednexus-future-healthcare-scholarship-drawing.html

For event information, visit unf.edu/UNFmednexus/DCPSInnoChallenge.html.

For questions about the challenge or scholarship drawing, contact i.willadsen@unf.edu.

About UNF MedNexus

UNF MedNexus connects university talent and discovery with regional partners to build workforce pipelines, advance healthcare innovation and strengthen Northeast Florida.