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NextGen Day at UTD
What Does a Brain-Healthy Campus Look Like & How Do We Build One?
BrainHealth Week kicks off at the main campus of UT Dallas, bringing together students, educators and community leaders to share best practices for brain health on campus.
MONDAY, FEB 23, 2026
4:00 PM - 6:00 PM CST
Davidson-Gundy Alumni Center
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Tessy Ojo, CBE, CEO of The Diana Award
Keynote Address
How to Become a Change Maker
An inspirational and creative leader, Tessy Ojo, CBE, has over two decades of experience working with young people around the world. She played a founding role in the building and sustainability of The Diana Award in the United Kingdom, the only charity that bears the name of Diana, Princess of Wales. Through this work, Ojo has developed internationally recognized programs that give young people skills to thrive and create positive change.
At the heart of her work is the belief that, with the right support and investment, young people are the best instigators for achieving sustainable change for both themselves and society.
Complimentary snacks 🍕 and refreshments 🥤
Begin the week with NextGen Day at UT Dallas, celebrating the potential of the human brain — and the power of student innovation to fuel better brain health on campus, starting at UTD.
Find out more at the Brain Health Prize reception! Browse a gallery of bold ideas from prize applicants, and hear experts break down ways college students can harness healthy levels of stress to drive peak performance. The newly established Brain Healthy Campus Collaborative will share insights into growing the wealth of brain health across campuses.
The Brain Health Prize
No one understands campus life better than college students
This new contest empowers college students to transform life on their campus by making proactive brain health part of the conversation. The 2026 contest sought the most innovative implementable plan to change the mindset around optimal stress on a college campus.
The winning student/team will be announced at the event and will receive a $5K award (half personal stipend; half implementation funds) with the potential to create a lasting legacy.
The Brain Health Prize is powered by the Brain Healthy Campus Collaborative
Stress is inevitable around college campuses, so students need to know not all stress is bad.
The 2026 theme is "Stress in Action," with the contest focusing on the concept of eustress, the optimal stress level for motivation and efficiency. Contest participants were challenged to understand where they fall on the stress curve, based on the Yerkes-Dodson Law of Arousal and Performance. The stress curve (see graph) shows that too little – as well as too much stress – can inhibit brain performance. But leveraging your optimal stress level can be a tool for growth.