TEDx LFHS is set to have its 10th annual event on March 20. This year’s theme is Rising Tides.

What is TEDx LFHS?

TED, known for TED talks, is an organization that promotes the sharing of ideas. TEDx, is a TED-like event, although completely independent of the original foundation. 

Similarly to the ideals of information spreading, TEDx is an event designed to promote connection and education that varies from community to community. TEDx LFHS is a self-organized TEDx event for LFHS students to speak and share ideas.

“Students apply to take the stage and their goal is to deliver a TED-like talk that should providean alternative perspective or illuminate ideas worth spreading,” TEDx creative director Jimmy Juliano said.

Who’s speaking this year?

“Sometimes [the speeches] are personal stories, sometimes they’re informational to teach the audience about something,” TEDx organizer and program director Laura Grigg said. “We try to have a variety of different talks every year.”

This year’s speakers include Chip Bailey, Catherine Fencl, Ryder Gamrath, Vedh Krishnan, Meghan Pierce, Jackson Sorenson, and Amani Yousuf.

The topics range from the “Cube Sandwich” theory to nostalgia to math.

“Students are supposed to be giving talks about things that they’re passionate about,” Juliano said.

In Between Speakers

TEDx is not only a space for students to share ideas, but also to share creativity.

There are a variety of musical acts featured between the speeches. The selection this year includes Lillian Arenas, Kashyap and Karnik Prasad, and a Jazz Combo. This year’s other musical act is The Band Women, an act most recently seen closing Camp Talent Show and featuring seniors Maria Kyriacou, Avery Morris, and Meghan Pierce.

TEDx is not only a vessel for creativity through music, but through art as well. Seniors Andrea Constantine, Taylor Ross, and Ella Burns are the photographers for this year. Animation students like sophomore Jordan Uddin and junior Rowan Homan are giving animations to be shown in between the speeches.

Rising Tides

This year’s theme is Rising Tides.

“To be honest, themes are not super important,” Juliano said. “They’re mainly meant just for marketing and visuals. So, we think it’s a fun theme for a couple of reasons. The posters look cool and we’re going to have projection mapping on the stage.”

Additionally, animation students are creating animations to go on the TEDx letters at the event. These letters will be ocean-themed.

“The theme is supposed to be intentionally broad in order to have a variety of talks,” Grigg said. “The theme should be broad enough to apply to any topic.”

While the Rising Tide theme may not be crucial to the event itself, it still contains a good message.

“It’s a very positive theme,” Juliano said. “We’re all carrying each other, and we’re all helping each other out.”

How to attend

The event is taking place during the sixth period this year in the Little Theater. To secure a seat, students can sign up through this google form by March 15th, as well as turn in a permission slip.

“The goal of TEDx is to be enlightening and illuminating,” Juliano said. “It hopefully opens up new perspectives for anyone that will listen.”