Theme: Overcoming Obstacles. Solving Problems. Changing the World.

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).

De Pere Middle School - LMC
700 Swan Road
De Pere, Wisconsin, 54115
United States

Alexis Trousil

Student

Alexis is an eighth grader at De Pere Middle School. Outside of the school day, she is involved in sports including Archery, Track and Cross Country. She also likes to spend time hanging out with her friends and spending time at her family's cabin during the summer. Excited about joining the high school, she can't wait to try new classes in engineering and participate in athletics.

Alyssa Yedica

Student

Alyssa is a 13 year old student at De Pere Middle School. She loves to read and spend time with her dog. Apart from going to school, she loves to dance and listen to music. One of her favorite things to do is going to concerts because she loves the experience and hanging out with people who have similar interests. Alyssa is ambitious and dreams of becoming a psychologist when she is older because she loves helping others and learning science. She loves to talk to others and enjoys taking on new challenges.

Anna Durand

Student

Anna is a 7th grade De Pere Middle School student. She is in soccer and gymnastics. Also likes spending time with friends and family, and can't wait for her future. She wants to go to Madison University, to become a general surgeon. Although she is excited about her future she is happy the way things are now.

Anna Herlache

Student

​Anna just turned 13 and is a 7th grader at De Pere Middle School. Her favorite school subjects are math and science, although she just likes learning in general. She loves to play volleyball, tennis, and run track. During summer she likes to run and swim. She would love to someday travel the world and visit Australia.

Annika Kennerhed

Student

Annika K is an 8th grader at De Pere Middle School. She likes to be involved in many activities, including gymnastics and jazz band. Annika also participated in the Verizon App Challenge; her team's app, Pass It On, won the Fan Favorite award. In her free time, Annika enjoys reading, knitting, and spending time with friends and family.

Becca Hartman-Pickerill

Campus Stewardship Manager

​Becca’s 9-5 is spent at Interfaith Youth Core (IFYC), a Chicago based non-profit that works with colleges and universities to foster interfaith cooperation. As a college student interfaith leader, through her MA in Forced Migration in South Africa, while living in China and now in her work at IFYC, Becca has been inspired by people who disagree on ultimate concerns and still manage to live and work together for a stronger community. Becca is an American Baptist, a parent, a partner and a Packer fan.

Betsy White

Life Coach/Business Owner

​Betsy White is the owner of The Life Coach 4 Kids. For the last 21 years she has worked with children in a variety of settings and uses her life experiences and diverse training to help kids feel empowered, confident and connected. She is passionate about helping kids grow up knowing who they are and trusting their unique brilliance and believes this is a critical time in history, where children need our love, support and guidance more than ever as they face unique challenges. In her free time, Betsy loves hiking, biking and kayaking with her most loyal 4-legged companion, Rylie. She also loves learning, connecting and laughing with family and friends and BEing the most authentic version of who she came to the planet to be.

Brandon Yellowbird-Stevens

Oneida Nation Councilman

​Councilman Stevens is serving his 3rd term on the Oneida Business Committee which represents over 17,000 tribal members. Councilman Stevens is the Legislative Operating Committee Chairman, which is the legislative branch of the Nation. He serves on former President Obama’s My Brother’s Keeper Alliance Advisory Board, President of the National Haskell Board of Regents for Haskell Indian Nations University as well as the Midwest Delegate for the National Indian Gaming Association both representing 34 Tribes of the Midwest. The focus of his tenure as councilman has been to Native American youth and providing programs geared toward youth leadership development, substance rehabilitation and restorative justice.

Caleb Garner

Student

Caleb Garner is a 13 year old student attending DePere Middle School. Caleb was raised in Michigan where he never managed to get a bright education, and now he has moved to De Pere in search of a Brighter Future, and the first step to this is his talk in TEDxDePereMiddleSchool 2017.​

Charlie Buboltz

Student

Charlie is an 8th grader at DPMS. He loves to public speak even if he may get a bit nervous when he's up on stage. He is a very musical kid taking part in both jazz bands and is enrolled in regular concert band. Additionally he also participates in forensics with two of his good friends and he loves to do that as well. Also he participates in both track and cross country (the best sport ever) and he hopes to continue them in the future. He hopes you enjoy his talk.

Charlie Krebs

Associate Professor of Theatre and Communication

Charlie Krebs teaches theatre and communication at Lakeland University in Sheboygan. On the way there, he earned degrees in technical theatre, acting and directing, working at theatres and eclectic places in between. He loves education, with a soft spot for sword-fighting and dialects. He formed the consulting firm, Communication Arts, to teach bold interpersonal and public communication skills. He grew up in NY State and got to Wisconsin via North Carolina, Kentucky, Louisiana, Georgia, Michigan, and Illinois.

Danielle Gauthier

Child Care Center Assistant Director

Danielle is a 25 years old assistant director at a child care center. She has spent most of her life overweight until one day she decided that she made the choice to be healthier. She enjoys being active and living a healthy lifestyle but also believes in the need to experience life so she never closes herself off from any opportunity.

Emily Wierzchowski

Student

Emily is a 7th grader at De Pere Middle School. In her free time, she enjoys drawing and spending time with her family. She doesn’t have an interest in sports anymore, but she has found that playing the flute is something that she loves to do. The Tedx event is something new she has never tried before, and she’s super excited for this year's event.

Emma Hujet

Student

Emma is a seventh grade student at DPMS who has been on stage performing since the age of six. Outside of school she enjoys playing soccer, singing, acting and writing books. She hopes that being involved in TedX will open some new doors and opportunities in the world of performing arts. ​

Gabbie Stecker

Student

Gabbie is a seventh grader at De Pere Middle School. In her free time she gets involved in sports such as soccer and track. She also like to spend time with her family and friends. She loves to babysit and play with her cousins. Excited about talking in the Tedx speech, she can’t wait to inspire everyone she meets.

Izzy O'Hearn

Student

Izzy is an eighth grade student at De Pere Middle School. She enjoys playing tennis and soccer in her free time as well as working hard on schoolwork and other academic activities. She likes making others smile and as well as caring for people. With that, she is willing to strive in her future to pursue her dream of going to an out of state college where she will work towards a medical degree to help others in her future. Izzy is hopeful that her Tedx speech will inspire others and encourage them to try something new.

Jolie Guyette

Student

Jolie Guyette lives in De Pere, Wisconsin. She enjoys spending her time practicing and playing sports, as well as volunteering at a cat shelter. When she grows up, Jolie wants to be a veterinary technician. Her favorite subjects in school are english and math. ​

Jonah Schofield

Student

Jonah is a 7th grade student who couldn't be more excited about TEDxDePereMiddleSchool 2017. He leans on his experience as a first place finisher in forensics for inspiration that he can deliver an incredible talk. Ultimately, Jonah wants TEDxDePereMiddleSchool to continue to succeed for years to come and he hopes to be a strong contributor to the event this year!

Josie Thomas

Student

​After doing school work, Josie enjoys sports and other activities like dance, softball and track. She has 2 brothers and one sister, who support her with all her activities that she enjoys doing. Josie loves to perform on stage and enjoys to make others people laugh. She loves to go outside and play with her friends and family.

Leila Schiegg

Student

Leila is an eighth grade feminist at De Pere Middle School. She loves animals and being outside. Leila hopes to participate in future women's right's march. For now, this Tedx talk is helping her display her beliefs. ​

Maddie Rentmeester

Student

Maddie is in seventh grade and enjoys learning many subjects, but especially math and science. She loves animals, traveling, and playing her violin. Her happy places are Seroogy’s Chocolate and upstate New York, which she visits every summer. Maddie lives in De Pere with her parents, little sister, and yellow lab, Lucy Roo. Maddie is a driven dreamer with a huge heart.

Naihua Wang

Student

Naihua studies at De Pere Middle School as an 8th grader. She was born in Texas and moved to Wisconsin when she was just 6 months old. Naihua works very hard to strive for good academic skills in school. Figure skating, piano, and violin are all hobbies that she is very passionate about. Naihua loves to read and do off ice training in her spare time. Her future dream is to become a pediatrician and help many children around the world. Naihua hopes that this Tedx talk helps not only herself, but to motivate others to fight through tough times.

Natalie Hamacher

Student

​​Natalie is an eighth grader at De Pere Middle School. She loves to race Soap Box Derby and has been to World Championships three times. Closer to home, she has a younger brother and a dog. For fun, she enjoys hanging out with her friends.

Natalie Paquet

Student

Natalie is a student at DPMS and has been in speech support for 3 years. She loves sharing her journey through it! She also enjoys participating in volleyball, football, and track and field! She has a strong support system at home with a loving parents and a brother, Max. she also enjoys playing with her dog Lunar as well as drawing.

Reni Krafft

Student

Reni is 13 years old and a 7th grade student at De Pere Middle School. She loves to read, write, sleep, and listen to music. Her favorite memory is seeing Panic! At The Disco in concert, because it was really fun and a great experience. Reni is striving to be an author or college professor when she gets older. She loves Broadway musicals like Heathers and Hamilton, and is often found screaming the lyrics in her bedroom when she's home alone.

Sami Lacount

Student

Sami is a 14 year old who lives in Wisconsin and attends De Pere Middle School. She is a hard working student and loves to make people smile and laugh. She is a competitive swimmer for GBSC, and also is on the De Pere Archery team. Sami also likes to spend time with her family and pets. At the the high school next year she is looking forward to the De Pere High School's swim team, and her science classes. She is also looking forward to joining the drama club.

Sophia Fabry

Student

​Between competing in multiple sports, doing school work, and spending time with friends and family, Sophia finds time to do extra activities. Sophia is a seventh grade student who lives in DePere, WI. On her free time, Sophia enjoys running, singing, reading, and spending time in the woods up north. Her favorite sports are track, volleyball, and gymnastics, while her favorite school subject is math. Sophia is 13 years old and dreams to be an oncologist or a biomedical engineer someday. Sophia is very outgoing and when the opportunity to do TedX was provided she was eager to take it. Since she was little, Sophia has been presenting and putting on shows and dances with her one sister, Olivia, for her parents, friends, and neighbors. She hopes to change many people's lives by giving her speech and wants to be remembered for something good or legendary someday.​

Vivian VanMiller

Student

Vivian is in 7th grade, and she enjoys reading, sports, biking, and hanging out with friends. She is doing a TEDx talk on what you shouldn't take for granted and loves how students have these opportunities even though they are young.

Zach Hodgdon

Student

Zach Hodgdon is an eighth grader at De Pere middle school. He has been fascinated with space and technology all of his life and plans on going into Astronautical Engineering as a career. His favorite subjects in school are math and science. Out of school, he is involved in robotics, 4-H, Boy Scouts, and music. He truly believes that mankind must expand elsewhere and continue developing scientific technologies to advance the human race, not destroy it in war.