PomfretSchool
x = independently organized TED event

Theme: This is Progress

This event occurred on
April 21, 2017
1:00pm - 4:30pm EDT
(UTC -4hrs)
Pomfret, Connecticut
United States

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized (subject to certain rules and regulations).

Pomfret School
398 Pomfret Street
Pomfret, Connecticut, 06258
United States
Event type:
Youth (What is this?)
See more ­T­E­Dx­Pomfret­School events

Speakers

Speakers may not be confirmed. Check event website for more information.

Aubrey Benzing-Plourde

Student
Aubrey Benzing-Plourde is a three year junior at Pomfret School. She was born in Hillsdale Michigan but moved when she was eight and has resided in Wallingford Connecticut ever since. She is the middle of five children and has always aspired to be different. She is involved with the planning of numerous activities on campus and aspires to become an environmental lawyer.

Cayman Macdonald

Student
Originally from West Palm Beach, Florida, Cayman graduated from Pomfret in 2012. She will be graduating from Northeastern University in Boston in May with a Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs and Political Science with minors in History, Global Social Entrepreneurship, and Food Systems, Sustainability, Health, and Equity. She has worked as the Communications Director of CODEPINK in Washington, D.C. organizing for various social justice causes; as a Production Assistant at the Fullbridge Program in Boston creating online learning curriculum for domestic and international clients; and as the Logistics Coordinator and as a teacher at the Tertiary School in Business Administration (TSiBA) in Cape Town, South Africa teaching business fundamentals and managing a study abroad program partnership between TSiBA and Northeastern. While living in South Africa, Cayman helped to start a non-profit microfinance company, Masiphumelele Community Innovations, of which she is the current CEO.

Collage Match

Start Up Founders
Four self proclaimed college experts CollegeMatch.io, an app dedicated to matching prospective applicants with college students at their schools of interest. Hailing from Syosset High School in New York, these seniors will attempt to demystify the college application and help listeners ease their nerves about the process. Aram was an avid debater at Syosset and plans to study philosophy and economics at Washington University in St. Louis this fall. Benjamin was class president for four years and will be studying economics and computer science at The University of Chicago. Ethan was heavily involved in business and politics throughout high school and will be attending Northwestern University as an economics and social policy major. A member of Syosset Crew and Youth Court, Josh will be attending The University of Pennsylvania as an undecided major.

Matthew Dicks

Educator
Matthew Dicks is the internationally bestselling author of the novels Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend, Something Missing and Unexpectedly, Milo, The Perfect Comeback of Caroline Jacobs, and the upcoming The Other Mother. His novels have been translated into more than 25 languages worldwide. He is also the author of the rock opera The Clowns and the musicals Caught in the Middle, Sticks & Stones and Summertime. He is the humor columnist for Seasons magazine and has published work in The Hartford Courant, Reader’s Digest, Parents magazine, The Huffington Post, and The Christian Science Monitor. He has also written comic books for DoubleTake Comics.

Matthew P. Winkler

Author, Educator
Matthew P. Winkler has taught and mentored teenagers at middle schools, high schools, and colleges in New York, New England, China, and Japan. He currently serves as the Writer in Residence at The Rectory School in Connecticut. He conducts presentations and workshops related to his viral TED-Ed video "What Makes a Hero?" and his new book Mentoring Teenage Heroes: The Hero's Journey of Adolescence.

Norah Eddy

CEO
Norah has worked in and on the water for most of her life, having spent countless days at sea and working in fisheries all over the world. She holds a BS in Marine Biology from the College of Charleston and a MESM from UCSB's Bren School of Environmental Science & Management. She has worked on both inshore and offshore fisheries projects at the state and federal level. Her master’s thesis focused on finding innovative solutions to problems facing the Galápagos lobster fishery. Norah’s work has taken her around the world, studying and presenting in Australia, Europe, Alaska, and Latin America. Upon receiving her master’s degree she managed an international, multi-stakeholder fisheries and marine spatial planning project. In 2014, she co-founded Salty Girl Seafood, a sustainable seafood company, with the aim of driving positive change in the seafood industry. Salty Girl was awarded Best Women Owned Business of 2015 by the Pacific Coast Business Times and placed first in the prestigious F

Tara Subramaniam

Education
Tara Subramaniam is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Student Voice, a completely student-run, non-partisan, not-for-profit organization strengthening the student movement for equitable schools. She is a sophomore at Georgetown's Walsh School of Foreign Service where she is majoring in International Political Economy and minoring in multitasking. While Tara actually hails from Atlanta, Georgia, her heart belongs to a small town in France near Normandy. She has a strong love/hate relationship with caffeine, running, and social media, and aspires to one day be like CJ Cregg or Elizabeth McCord.

Organizing team

Gordie
Croce

Pomfret, CT, United States
Organizer

Jamie
Baker

Pomfret, CT, United States
Co-organizer