Theme: Breaking Free

As we all transition back into school post-pandemic, we are all faced with challenges we never saw coming. Immediately, we could not take our classes from the comfort of our own rooms and be thrust back into a completely new, post-pandemic environment. However, even with these circumstances, our students and community have continued to flourish and Break Free of the shackles that the pandemic previously held us to. This October, we host a distinguished set of five speakers: three students and two adults from our community making strides in our post-pandemic world. From new innovative styles of modern art to a breathtaking trans-Atlantic voyage, we hope to provide a conference that encourages our students to explore their futures to the fullest, and more importantly: Break Free.

Palo Alto High School (Haymarket Theater)
50 Embarcadero Road
Palo Alto, California, 94303
United States

Cal Currier

Palo Alto High School Student

Cal Currier is a student in the class of 2024 at Palo Alto High School and is the youngest person to solo sail across the Atlantic Ocean. Currier hopes to emphasize the importance of taking risks in the modern day, as well as encourage parents to avoid overprotecting their children in a way that stifles their growth.

Daniel Nguyen

Math Teacher

Daniel Nguyen is a two-time Jeopardy! champion and teaches math at Palo Alto High School. He is active in the Palo Alto Educators Association and serves on the union's negotiations team. Daniel holds degrees in statistics and biostatistics from UCLA and is finishing up a doctorate in education at Mills College at Northeastern University. In his free time, he likes completing escape rooms.

Partha Krishna

Palo Alto High School Student

Partha is a student in the class of 2023 at Palo Alto High School. Partha has been teaching at the Sequoia District Adult School for four years, which has changed his perspectives on teaching.

Scott Switzer

Electrical Engineering Student

Scott Switzer is a senior Electrical Engineering student at the University of British Columbia with a keen interest in leveraging his experience toward the pursuit of sustainability and environmental protection.