3 minute read
Design Challenge teaches brain health
Concussion Legacy Foundation Canada, Aune Foundation and Selwyn House School kicked off the Brains & Brawn Design Challenge and Gaming Tournament on May 7. The series of events launched with a virtual exercise program featuring a surprise superstar guest, NHL and Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid.
“It is so important to stay both mentally and physically healthy during these challenging times that the pandemic has presented us with,” said McDavid. “Take care of your brain, whether you are on the ice, on the field or playing video games. Regular exercise, eating healthy and sleeping well are all very important for being at your best.”
The students then followed Connor through an exercise program led by Ben Velazquez, a world-renowned therapeutic exercise specialist, to start preparing them for the Brains & Brawn event.
On May 7 at 12 p.m., the Design Challenge was made available to all Canadian students aged 13-17, who wished to participate. Students could “play” as individuals or in teams of two or three.
The event was free for all Canadian students, courtesy of the Aune Foundation.
The Design Challenge is an event created by a team of passionate technology experts, start-up founders, athletic performance experts and social changemakers, who are passionate about teaching and coaching technology through the power of play. The event will promote the world-changing imagination and creativity of young people from all socio-economic backgrounds.
The goal of the Design Challenge is to help participating students design new ideas and prototypes that will help maximize the brain health and performance of Canadian students. The best ideas will be eligible for prizes such as NHL tickets, Nike gear and internship opportunities.
“My heart goes out to all students across Canada,” said Selwyn House Old Boy Jonathan Aune ’92, Director of The Aune Foundation. “While we can never replace basketball and hockey games or field trips cancelled during the pandemic, we want to help host a fun virtual event for young students, while teaching essential lessons about brain performance that they can apply for a lifetime.”
“Adolescent screen time has doubled during the pandemic,” said fellow Old Boy Tim Fleiszer ’92, Executive Director of Concussion Legacy Foundation Canada (CLF). “Empowering students to improve their brain health and performance is a great gift, especially as we start contemplating the in-person return to school and sports in the fall.”
“Selwyn House School is proud to host the Design Challenge,” said Mike Downey, Headmaster of Selwyn House School. “Students’ brain health is key to their performance. We want our students to venture into uncharted areas and disciplines with the confidence to explore, challenge, and innovate without worrying about the limitations of failure. Being able to share this event with other schools in the Montreal community and across North America is part of Selwyn House’s commitment of teaching students to be ‘True to Your World.’”
“This is a great opportunity for our students to be active and recognize that professional athletes are feeling the same way they do,” says Mike Maurovich, Director of Athletics at Selwyn House. “The message from Tim Fleiszer and workout with Connor McDavid will stimulate their competitive spirit which can then be channeled into the Design Challenge.”
“This is an exceptional educational experience for students involving design thinking, engineering, creativity, and teamwork,” says Brenda Montgomery, Director of Academic Innovation & Growth at Selwyn House School. “I am thrilled that this program has launched in Quebec.”
“Our understanding of the impact of exercise on brain health is rapidly expanding. It is my pleasure to share some advanced protocols with Canadian students that, up until now, have only been available to elite professional athletes,” says Therapeutic Exercise Specialist Ben Velazquez.
It’s been a blast to re-connect with Jon and work with the Selwyn staff,” says Tim Fleiszer. “It feels like coming home.”
“I concur with Tim,” says Jon Aune. “It feels like home. My life has come full circle all the way back to my roots at SHS. I love it.”
