MedNexus Innovation Challenge Returns to Palm Coast

For the fourth consecutive year, the city of Palm Coast is set to host the MedNexus Innovation Challenge, a collaboration with the University of North Florida, according to a media release. The event takes place April 11 from 5-7 p.m. at the Palm Coast Community Center, 305 Palm Coast Pkwy NE.

The event features teams of regional high school students with finalists selected from Flagler and Duval counties, who will pitch their creative solutions for tackling Florida’s evolving healthcare needs and challenges. Presentations are then evaluated by a panel of judges, which is comprised of industry leaders, corporations, and government officials.

For this year’s challenge, the students will be faced with finding innovative means of taking on social media addiction in adolescents.

“The UNF MedNexus Innovation Challenge gives students the opportunity to work together to develop creative solutions to real-world challenges,” said Julie Williams Merten, associate dean at UNF MedNexus, in the release. “We have been so impressed by the students and their innovative ideas and professionalism – it has been a delight to work with them.”

This year’s first and second place teams will take home $1,000 and $750 in scholarship prize money per team member, respectively.