Theme: Challenging the Status Quo

In Adam Grant's "Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World," Grant discusses originality vs. conformity and shares his findings of how to think creatively and originally, and there is an overarching theme of going against the grain. Inspired by Grant's “Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World," we hold this TEDx conference to inspire our community to go against the grain and institute positive change.

Pace Academy
966 West Paces Ferry Rd
Fine Arts Center
Atlanta, Georgia, 30327
United States

Amalia Haviv

Student Speaker

Amalia began at Pace in the ninth grade and is active in the ICGL Global Health Council, Covenant House Scholars, Model UN, the ICGL Art & Urban Revitalization Cohort, and Triple E Projects, which she co-founded with Megan Hardesty.

Carlos Gomez

Speaker

Carlos is a Colombian-American poet, speaker, actor, and author of Fractures, winner of the Felix Pollak Prize in Poetry, Hijito, winner of the Broken River Prize, and the memoir, Man Up: Reimagining Modern Manhood. Carlos is a proud Latinx and father.

Jack Brown

Student Speaker

Jack Brown joined our community in third grade and quickly found an interest in performing arts. He will be attending The New School in Manhattan to study creative writing in the fall. Jack hopes that the audience leaves today with a hint of a new perspective, and he would like to thank Mr. Kaufman and Michael Fu for organizing this event.

Kargil Behl

Student Speaker

Kargil joined Pace in Pre-First, expecting to be a lifer. After moving with his family to India after fourth grade, Kargil rejoined Pace in eighth grade and has been here ever since. Kargil competes with the math team, runs almost every day for track and cross-country, recreationally plays the guitar, and researches current events in Model UN.

Kristina Smith-Newton

Speaker

As the founder and president of HYPE, Kristina demonstrates her passion and commitment to serving youth by preparing them for successful futures through STEM-related exposure, opportunities and careers. Her portfolio of work includes organizations such as Girls Who Code, Technology Association of Georgia Education Collaborative, Atlanta Bridge Community founded by Coca-Cola, and American Explorers Westside Ambassador Program.

Maddie Hale

Student Speaker

Maddie began at Pace in ninth grade. She enjoys creative outlets such as painting outside of school as well as doing independent research on social justice in the Black community. She would like to thank her parents and friends for always pushing her to her fullest potential.

Megan Hardesty

Student Speaker

Megan entered Pace in fifth grade and is a member of the varsity volleyball team, the varsity basketball team, and the varsity soccer team. She is also the lifestyle editor of the school newspaper. Through last year's Pace Social Entrepreneurship Challenge, she and Amalia Haviv started Triple E Projects, an after-school program for children at Title 1 schools.

Troy Baker

Speaker

Troy came to Pace six years ago as the Director of Athletics and varsity girls basketball head coach. He began serving as the Director of Student Life this year, and he will be the Head of Upper School at Breck School in Golden Valley, Minnesota, starting this summer. He received his undergraduate degree from Wright State, his master’s from Brown, and his doctorate from Vanderbilt.