Mandarin High Students to Pitch Opioid Awareness Solutions at UNF Competition Nov. 12

Four Mandarin High School students will pitch opioid awareness solutions at a public competition Nov. 12.

The Mandarin High team is one of four Duval County Public Schools (DCPS) squads selected for the second annual UNF MedNexus Innovation Challenge, according to a DCPS announcement. The program picked the four teams from 45 applications representing eight high schools across the district.

Students Genevieve Fiorentino, Ayla Puscar, Summer Foster and Kennedy Sheperd make up the Mandarin High team. Their faculty coach is Rachel Riggs-Achorn, a health communication researcher and assistant professor in UNF's School of Communication, according to the UNF MedNexus challenge page.

This year's theme is "Friends First: Early Action for Opioid Awareness." Each team is developing solutions to help young people recognize early warning signs of opioid misuse, respond and connect peers with support.

The other three selected schools are Jean Ribault High School, Stanton College Preparatory School and Paxon School for Advanced Studies.

Public Pitch Competition

The teams will present their ideas at a live pitch competition Thursday, Nov. 12, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the UNF MedNexus Innovation Exchange inside FSCJ Deerwood Center, 9911 Old Baymeadows Road East, Jacksonville. Jacksonville City Council member Ron Salem will serve as emcee, according to the UNF MedNexus newsroom. The event is open to the public.

A panel of healthcare, education, business and community leaders will judge the presentations. The first-place team earns a $1,000 scholarship per member. An Audience Choice Award carries a $250 scholarship per member.

Paula Renfro, chief academic officer for DCPS, said the challenge lets students "take what they are learning and apply it to issues that affect their own generation." She said the district is excited to see what ideas students develop with mentorship and resources, according to the DCPS announcement.

Separate Scholarship Drawing

A separate MedNexus Future Healthcare Scholarship Drawing will also take place during the Nov. 12 event. Students do not need to be on a competing team to participate.

Five provisional recipients will be selected from eligible DCPS seniors to receive renewable scholarships worth up to $2,500 per academic year for as many as four years, for a maximum of $10,000 per recipient.

Recipients must graduate in 2027, qualify for Florida resident tuition, be admitted to and enroll at the University of North Florida (UNF), and pursue an approved healthcare-connected major beginning in fall 2027. Additional scholarship requirements apply.

Eligible students had to preregister by Nov. 2, receive confirmation of their registration, check in by 5:15 p.m. Nov. 12 and be present for the scholarship drawing, according to UNF MedNexus's scholarship requirements.

Advance registration was limited to the first 100 eligible students. Scholarship recipients will be announced during the event.

Final Projects Due Nov. 6

Projects from all four teams are due to faculty coaches by 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6, ahead of the public presentations Nov. 12.