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).

Saint Francis High School
1885 Miramonte Avenue
Mountain View, California, 94040
United States

Aadi Kenchammana

Student

Aadi Kenchammana is a senior at Saint Francis High School where he co-leads the Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning Club. Outside of school, he loves listening to music, swimming, skiing, spending time with his sister, and creating memories with friends. His inventive spirit first blossomed in his childhood garage, where he spent countless summer days building battle bots, modifying RC cars, and even carving a functional bow from a log.

Alex Gklaros-Stavropoulos

Student

Alex Gklaros-Stavropoulos is a senior at Saint Francis High School. He loves playing basketball, volleyball, drawing, and walking his dog. He was inspired by his lifelong desire to find connections between seemingly unrelated ideas.

Avery Simonsen

Student

Avery is a Junior and extrovert at Saint Francis High School who loves meeting new people and chatting. While still maintaining her bubbly personality, she shares her journey on how learning to listen to others has changed her perspective on life - as listening is the loudest form of kindness. She hopes her message of practicing listening sparks inspiration to reflect on one's own everyday exchanges with others and how we can make everybody feel HEARD.

Devyn Ponnuvelu

Student

Devyn Ponnuvelu is a senior at Saint Francis High School involved in Affinity Council, Pride Student Union, and SFHS Acapella. They love the outdoors (especially going hiking, camping, and snowboarding) and enjoy spending their time reading, listening to and making music, and watching women's sports. They explore what it means to live fully across many identities and why being "too much" is something to be proud of.

Edla Lahtiranta

Student

Edla Lahtiranta is a current senior at Saint Francis High School, where she serves as Captain of the Varsity Pom Squad and Senior Class Spirit Commissioner. She is also actively involved in the schools Innovation Partnership Program, exploring how to bring real world experiences to her campus. Passionate about advocacy and storytelling, Edla uses her voice to spark conversation around mental health, neurodiversity, and society.

Isabella Montesi

Student

Isabella Montesi is a senior at Saint Francis High School, the President of the Paintbox Art Club, and the ASB Social Media and Video Production Representative. In 2023, she attended the California State Summer School for the Arts’s renowned Animation track, making her a recognized California Arts Scholar. Her time at CSSSA not only opened her mind to the possibilities of the animated medium through digital and analog techniques, but also solidified her passion to pursue animated filmmaking professionally and foster greater educational arts opportunities at school. From watching Finding Nemo on loop as an infant to creating her own animated short films in high school, Isabella’s wonder with the medium is always evolving and expanding.

Katherine Winton

Student

Katherine Winton is a senior at Saint Francis who is the editor-in-chief of the newspaper, participates in campus ministry, organizes the annual hackathon, and more. Aside from spending time with friends and doing outdoor sports like snowboarding and surfing, she loves reading, listening to music, watching movies, and really anything related to entertainment. She is also an advocate for uplifting underrepresented voices.

Marco Sucre

Student

Marco Sucre is a junior at Saint Francis High School. At school, he is a member of the varsity football team and the social business and entrepreneurship club. Outside of school, he loves surfing, being outdoors, playing musical instruments, and most importantly spending time with friends and family. Marco is proud to be a part of a family with a rich and deep history, and is greatly inspired by the stories told to him by relatives.

Riyana Goel

Student

Riyana Goel is a junior at St Francis. She is passionate about leadership, especially in regards to mental health advocacy in her community. She founded a global mindfulness nonprofit 5 years ago called Apart But Not Alone and has also worked on the City of Cupertino's Youth Activity Board for three years. Apart from TEDx at school, she writes for The Lancer and is a tutor for the California Scholarship Federation. Riyana is a strong advocate for diversity within ideas, so she was compelled to speak about the lack of conversations regarding religious diversity.

Shaurya Gulani

Student

Shaurya Gulani is a junior at Saint Francis High School in Mountain View, California. His hobbies include weightlifting, learning about wristwatch mechanics, 10k obstacle runs, hiking, charity marathons, and shoe designing. With a passion for sports medicine, he hopes to bring innovation to the field through biomedical engineering and philanthropy.