Theme: Radical Endeavors

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).

TEDxYouth Conference Venue
3701 College Park Dr
The Woodlands, Texas, 77384
United States

Aishwarya Mitra

Aishwarya Mitra is a junior at the Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science. She has ventured into multiple disciplines ranging from business to researching GMOs, robotics and beyond. Currently she is trying for an interdisciplinary coorporation to make education appealing to not only at-risk students but also their families.

Arman Sharma

Arman Sharma, 16, is a junior at the Academy of Science and Technology in The Woodlands, TX. He is highly interested in education philosophy and is a strong believer in advancing the quality of primary education for a better future. Through many endeavors such as Teach 2 Learn, a non-profit organization which aims to further educational opportunity for kids in grades K-8, scientific research, for which he has competed on an international level, and training as one of the youngest certified instructors of the world-renowned Suzuki Method for classical music, he strives to not only explore his interests in the multi-faceted components of education, but also to make a difference in his community.

Caleb Hu

Violinist

Caleb Hu is a senior at the Woodlands College Park who loves to play violin and piano. He has been playing since he was in 2nd grade and this summer he will be teaching violin in China as well as touring the Philippines as a part of the Thousand Islands International Piano Competition.

Chris Chan

Cellist

Chris Chan is currently a junior in The Woodlands College Park High School who loves music. Starting his musical studies in the piano when still in his diapers at age 3, music has been an integral part of his life. He picked up the cello in the 5th grade, admiring its similarities to the human voice along with its wide range of expression. He’s been participating in the Region 9 Orchestra since the 6th grade, currently in the Symphony Orchestra in school, and partook in the TMEA All-State Philharmonic Orchestra his freshman and sophomore year of high school. When not playing music, he likes to challenge himself with AP classes in school, learn Japanese, hang out with friends, or play The Sims. He plans to heal other people in the future, both in healthcare as well as through music.

Gabriel Poveda

Gabriel Poveda is a senior from The Woodlands High School. During his time at the high school, Gabriel has dedicated himself to environmental and social activism. His previous projects include pollution in African American and Hispanic communities and reducing oil subsidies in the energy sector. Today Gabriel is a caregiver for his dad, Luis, who has A.L.S. He will attend the University of Texas at Austin this fall to study Environmental Science.

Kabir Jolly

Student Entrepreneur

Kabir Jolly is a high school junior at the Academy of Science and Technology at College Park High School. He enjoys playing tennis, working on his science fair project, and teaching robotics to hundreds of children around the Houston area. With his partner Michael Gerhard, he worked on a venture called “ScrAPPS” which is a smartphone application-based platform devoted to diverting commercial food waste from landfills. Driven by the combination of technology and sustainability, ScrAPPS is a promising solution to bringing commercial food waste to composting facilities. This project has received recognition at an international level, placing third in the Environmental Engineering category and receiving the Rob and Melani Sustainability Solutions Award at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair 2018. ScrAPPS exemplified the journey of a startup - posing many difficult challenges as well as learning opportunities that have proved to be invaluable at such a young age.

Michael Gerhard

Student Entrepreneur

Michael Gerhard is an aspiring entrepreneur and technology enthusiast. Before attending the Academy of Science and Technology at College Park High School, he had the opportunity to gain a broad international perspective from extensive travel and living in places such as South Africa, Germany, and Canada. Michael is also involved in DECA and serves as an officer in both the German National Honor Society and the entrepreneurship-based DICE club. Michael has a passion for applying technology to pressing global challenges. Previously, he and Kabir Jolly developed a technology solution to divert commercial food waste through an innovative smartphone-based platform. In his free time, Michael enjoys reading, playing tennis, and programming.

Monica Gaffney

Monica Gaffney is a junior in the Academy of Science & Technology at The Woodlands College Park High School. Besides continuing her work and support for orphaned and vulnerable children in Zambia, Monica is a harp player for the CP Orchestra and an avid supporter of environmental conservation with CP Envirothon. In the future, she plans to major in Public Policy and Economics to enable her to design policies that would improve housing, education, and job opportunities for the disadvantaged.

Mukund Bhandari

Biotechnologist

I am Biotechnology graduate and currently working as a researcher. In the past, I was introvert and used to fear public speaking because of my stutter/stammer. Recently, I have changed certain bad habits and have learned new way of speaking. Since then, I consider myself as a eloquent speaker and working my way to become a public speaker.

Nelson Reyes

Student Lawyer

Nelson Reyes recently graduated from Challenge Early College HS, where he gave his first TedX talk “Powerful Failures”. He is now attending the University of Houston Downtown and plans to attend Law school to assist his father in his business providing legal assistance to immigrants in Houston. He has also recently begun a t-shirt business with his brother titled “Ourselves clothing,” as well as a non-profit organization with a friend based on Instagram named “Stay True Club” which is dedicated to personally helping individuals going through personal hardships. Nelson’s talk “Scamming: The Worst Kind of Lying“ is centered around the idea of dishonesty, and the extreme measures some individuals go to for their own personal gain. Nelson uses his own experiences and perspective to discuss why individuals scam people.

Sakethram Desabhotla

Sakethram Desabhotla is a Freshman at the University of Houston in the Honors College. Before high school, he had the opportunity to travel the world and live in places like Nigeria and Papua New Guinea, which gave him a humbling international perspective. After moving to the United States as a high school Freshman, Sakethram consistently pursued diverse active leadership roles in numerous student organizations such as the Student Government Association, the TED-Ed Club, and the Chess Club. In college, he is continuing his student leadership in the Student Government Association and building on his passion for discourse as a member of the collegiate debate team. As a passionate public speaker, Sakethram loves to share and discuss various ideas to inspire others and develop his perspective. When not on debating or leading in different capacities, you can find him playing cricket, playing video games, or discussing politics and philosophy with his friends and family.

Serg Fraizer

Serge Frazier is an active member of the Boy Scouts of America and Academy of Science and Technology who strives to promote the outdoors while fighting apathy in the S.T.E.M. field. Serge’s scouting career spans that of five years, with Serge working up the ranks, becoming a co-organizer of High Adventure backpacking treks, an Order of the Arrow representative, and a senior patrol leader within his Troop. Additionally, as a member of the Academy of Science and Technology and the president of public relations for the Junior State of America, Serge has been reaching out to persons of all ages to promote activity and to promote the S.T.E.M. field. Serge’s talk, titled, A natural cure; our brains on nature, is one of the may ways in which Serge is promoting the outdoors while fighting apathy in the field of S.T.E.M.. In the long term, Serge plans on expanding his audience to that of a greater extent; helping the current generations enjoy the outdoors today, while preparing them for the S.T.E.M. field tomorrow.

Serge Frazier

Nature Enthusiast

Serge Frazier is an active member of the Boy Scouts of America and Academy of Science and Technology who strives to promote the outdoors while fighting apathy in the S.T.E.M. field. Serge's scouting career spans that of five years, with Serge working up the ranks, becoming a co-organizer of High Adventure backpacking treks, an Order of the Arrow representative, and a senior patrol leader within his Troop. Additionally, as a member of the Academy of Science and Technology and the president of public relations for the Junior State of America, Serge has been reaching out to persons of all ages to promote activity and to promote the S.T.E.M. field. Serge's talk, titled, A natural cure; our brains on nature, is one of the may ways in which Serge is promoting the outdoors while fighting apathy in the field of S.T.E.M. Serge plans on expanding his audience to a greater extent; helping the current generations enjoy the outdoors today, while preparing them for the S.T.E.M. field tomorrow.

Spencer Ricks

Trumpet Player

A senior trumpet-player at The Woodlands High School.