Teams from Mandarin, Ribault, Stanton and Paxon present their ideas from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at FSCJ Deerwood Center. The pitch night is free and open to the public.

Four Duval County Public Schools teams will pitch their ideas for preventing opioid misuse among teenagers at a public event Thursday. The University of North Florida’s MedNexus program picked them from 45 applications representing eight high schools.

The teams come from:

  • Mandarin High School
  • Jean Ribault High School
  • Stanton College Preparatory School
  • Paxon School for Advanced Studies

This is the second year of the DCPS Innovation Challenge. This year’s theme is “Friends First: Early Action for Opioid Awareness.” Teams are asked for ideas that help young people spot early warning signs of misuse, respond and steer friends toward support, according to UNF’s announcement.

Each team has worked with a UNF faculty coach from communication, public health or social work. They present to a panel of health care, education, business and community leaders.

When and where

  • When: 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12
  • Where: MedNexus Innovation Exchange, FSCJ Deerwood Center, 9911 Old Baymeadows Road
  • Who can come: UNF said students, families, educators and community partners are encouraged to attend
  • Emcee: City Council member Ron Salem
  • Questions: i.willadsen@unf.edu

“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,” DCPS Chief Academic Officer Paula Renfro said in the district’s announcement.

Julie Williams Merten, executive director of UNF MedNexus, said the partnership gives students “the mentorship and opportunity to turn their ideas into solutions that support their peers.”

Scholarship drawing for seniors

The same evening, MedNexus holds a separate random drawing for five renewable scholarships. Each is worth up to $2,500 a year for up to four years, a maximum of $10,000, starting in fall 2027, according to the scholarship page.

The drawing is open only to DCPS seniors who:

  • registered by Nov. 2 and had the registration accepted (the first 100 eligible students; a waitlist after that)
  • plan to apply to UNF for fall 2027 and study an approved health care major
  • check in by 5:15 p.m. and stay for the whole event

Winners are provisional. They must graduate from a DCPS high school in 2027, enroll at UNF and meet the scholarship’s other conditions before any money is paid.

What it means for you

  • The pitch night is a chance to hear what Duval students think would actually reach their friends about opioids. Families and neighbors are welcome.
  • If your senior registered for the drawing, they need to be checked in by 5:15 p.m. and stay until the end.
  • New registrations closed Nov. 2. Families can ask UNF about the waitlist at the email above.

More on the district on our schools page.

Frequently asked questions

When is the UNF MedNexus DCPS Innovation Challenge pitch night?

Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the MedNexus Innovation Exchange inside FSCJ Deerwood Center, 9911 Old Baymeadows Road. UNF said students, families, educators and community partners are encouraged to attend.

Which schools are in the 2026 DCPS Innovation Challenge?

Mandarin High School, Jean Ribault High School, Stanton College Preparatory School and Paxon School for Advanced Studies. UNF MedNexus picked the four teams from 45 applications representing eight high schools.

Can DCPS seniors still sign up for the MedNexus scholarship drawing?

Not for a guaranteed place. Registration closed Nov. 2 and was capped at the first 100 eligible seniors, with a waitlist after that. Registered students must check in by 5:15 p.m. and stay for the whole event to be in the drawing.