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).

Nashua High School South
36 Riverside Street
Nashua, New Hampshire, 03062
United States

Abhinav Avvaru

Student

Abhinav is a senior at Nashua High School South. He is also passionate about scientific research and public advocacy. His research won him first place overall in the New Hampshire Science and Engineering Expo (NHSEE) and qualified him as a Regeneron ISEF finalist for two consecutive years. He was also recognized with an honorable mention special award from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in ISEF. Abhinav enjoys playing tennis, watching TED talks, and playing piano in his free time. He is an active member of the community as the captain and #1 player of the Nashua South tennis team, the president of the Science and Engineering Club, and the president of the Innovations Club.

Adam Patterson

Speaker in Blockchain, nft/web3, and AI Space

Adam Patterson is a keynote speaker in the blockchain, nft/web3, and AI space. Adam has over 20 years of business experience building and selling businesses for multi-millions. He has been able to tap into trends and leverage the power of AI, technology, and crypto to create opportunities for himself, his family, and others. Adam just founded PRODiGALX where he raised over $3.6M to run events bringing the smartest minds together in the crypto, web3, and AI space.

Advay Verma

Student

Advay is a sophomore at Lexington High School. He is an International public speaker, state level debater, runner and a published poet. Advay holds a Scholar’s Book Of World Record for contributing to the longest poem anthology. He pushes the envelope by running half marathons and hopes to run a marathon someday. Advay is also a volunteer at a local hospital. He has started a youth meetup group for the JDRF New England Chapter. In his spare time, he loves to read, exercise, and play video games with friends.

Gary Leschinsky

Student

Gary is a high school sophomore who is very passionate about chess. He is a National Chess Master and is ranked among the top 30 chess players for his age in the United States. Gary is also an inventor and researcher, holding 2 United States patents for his inventions and winning multiple awards. Through chess and research, Gary has been featured in several media outlets including The Washington Post, USA Today, and the New Yorker, and he was a keynote speaker at the Festival of Brilliant Minds (CDI) in Mexico.

James Levesque

Author, Church Planter, Podcaster, TV show host, international speaker

James Levesque is an author, church planter, podcaster, TV show host and international speaker. From growing up in the projects in CT to now being the nation’s top church planter in America by planting over 25 churches, speaking to 70 nations, and impacting over 100,000 people globally through his content. James also hosted top shows Breaking Through and Love Living Life on the Christian Television Network (CTN). James and his wife Debbie live in beautiful Clearwater, Florida with their three wonderful children, Isaac, Luke, and Amayah.

Lakshmi Haasini Buddepu

Student

Lakshmi is a sophomore at Nashua High School South. Born in India, raised in Ireland, and living in America, she loved learning about different cultures and using the various opportunities she had. With a profound love for dance and fascination with the cosmos, she is fueled by passion and curiosity. Her passion for dance began at a very young age as she continues to perform, compete, and teach little kids how to dance. She is an officer of the astronomy club at school and is very involved in the community since she loves socializing and being part of the community. In her free time, she also loves watching movies, playing instruments, and annoying her little sister.

Olivia Odileke

Trailblazer with a B.S. in Industrial Engineering and an M.Ed. in Instructional Technology and Design

Introducing Olivia Odileke, an educational trailblazer with a B.S. in Industrial Engineering and an M.Ed. in Instructional Technology and Design. With over 15 years of experience in Title 1 schools, Olivia's unique background blends analytical thinking with pedagogical expertise. She's an innovator who's personally trained over 10,000 educators, empowering them to harness technology and curiosity in teaching. Olivia, the author of the acclaimed "Beginner’s Guide to Nearpod" and "Spark Curiosity: A Guide to Quick Inquiry Tasks," is on a fearless mission to revolutionize education. Her passion is inspiring educators, learners, and thought leaders to reimagine education for a brighter future.

Vedant Patel

Student

Vedant is a junior at Nashua High School South. He enjoys collaborating with others. Alongside TEDx, he runs the economics club at his school. He is passionate about finance, law, and healthcare. Outside of school, he is an active volunteer at the local hospital. He enjoys watching movies, biking, and reading in his free time.