Theme: TEDxYouth@Austin :: Full Circle

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).

Westlake High School Performing Arts Center
4100 Westbank Drive
Austin, Texas, 78746
United States

Antonio Delgado

Antonio Delgado works as the Minister of Fun and Education with Science in a Suitcase, a nonprofit he helped start in 2014.Together they hope to teach kids all over the world about the greatness of robotics and creativity. During his downtime, Antonio loves to play music with his band ‘Oh Antonio and His Imaginary Friends’ and write children’s stories. He believes that a STEAM education is essential to creating well rounded and fruitful students.

Elliot Kotek

Elliot is a social innovator with degrees in law, science and storytelling. He’s obsessed with collaborating to create content and campaigns to help real people in real need, and then utilizing brands to amplify those stories. Elliot’s work has been honored with 3 Cannes Lions, 5 Tellys, 4 One Show Pencils, 3 Maggies, 2 AICPs for Cause Marketing, TEDMED’s Hive, SxSW's Innovation Award, two Clios, NYU's Craft Award and archiving at MoMA.

Jenna Mueller

Dr. Jenna Mueller is a postdoctoral researcher at Duke University who is interested in the intersection of biomedical engineering and global health. She is specifically interested in developing low cost optical devices to diagnose breast and cervical cancer in resource limited settings. Jenna attended Westlake High School, received a B.S. degree in bioengineering from Rice University, and completed both an M.S. and Ph.D. in biomedical engineering at Duke University.

Lindsey Creel

Lindsey Creel is a fashion designer based in Austin, TX. Creel graduated from the Savannah College of Art and Design in 2009 and moved to New York where she worked in production for designer Rachel Comey. After setting down in Austin, TX in 2012, Lindsey launched her small batch womenswear line M.E. Shirley, named after her late great grandmother, who serves as the strong southern inspiration for her work. Recently, Creel was asked to participate on season 14 of Project Runway, which aired this fall on Lifetime.

Louis Black

Louis Black is the co-founder and current editor of the Austin Chronicle, the co-founder and current director of South by Southwest, and a founding board member of the Austin Film Society. Currently, Louis is the founding partner of the film consultation firm, Production for Use, and has directed his first documentary, which is premiering at the Sundance Film Festival. Black resides in Austin with his partner, Sandy, and his son Eli.

Rick Tumlinson

Rick Tumlinson’s goal is to spread life and humanity into space during his lifetime. A leading writer, speaker, and Congressional witness, he led the takeover of the Russian Mir space station, signed the first space tourist, and helped create the New Space industry of Musk, Bezos, Branson, Allen, and others. As founder of the New Worlds organization, Space Frontier Foundation, Orbital Outfitters, and Deep Space Industries – an asteroid mining company – he walks the walk of a true pioneer.

Sarah Hernholm

Sarah Hernholm is the Founder/President of WIT- Whatever It Takes, as well as a guest speaker. Sarah created WIT as a platform for teens to launch businesses and get their voices heard. Since her TEDx talk on "Authentic Self-Expression", Sarah's been sharing her message with high school students around the country. Her passion is helping teens achieve their dreams and inspiring them to do Whatever It Takes to make the world a better place.

Shasparay Lighteard

Shasparay Lighteard is a fresh and formidable new voice for all youth. She was the 2015 National NAACP ACT-SO Poetry Performance Scholarship winner and the author of a collection of poetry called "Say it with Your Chest”. Shasparay was the second ranked female youth poet in the world in 2014 and the second ranked youth poet in Texas in 2013. She was also crowned Miss Juneteenth Austin 2015 last June.

Stacy Garlington

Stacy Garlington has been an avid hobby photographer since she became inspired by an encounter with Humpback whales in Maui, Hawaii. An experience she says, “forever changed her life”. Since then, Stacy has spent much of her time studying the art of photography, traveling, and more recently learning to fly and capture photos using small consumer drones. Aerial photography quickly became her obsession after realizing the tremendous potential of this new industry. Stacy hopes to someday incorporate aerial imaging into the research and conservation of the whales that once inspired her passion for photography. During the past two years Stacy has had the opportunity to teach hundreds of new pilots various flying techniques all over the United States. Most recently, she had the honor of being published in both Forbes and TIME magazines demonstrating that photographers and filmmakers now have the ability to capture perspectives from above.