Theme: Galaxies Unknown

TEDxLFHS is a TEDxYouth event designed to highlight LFHS students, teachers and innovative thinkers that have ideas worth spreading. The event places a strong emphasis on empowering young people in Lake Forest, area schools, and around the world. This year's theme is "Galaxies Unknown" and premieres on March 15, 2023.

Lake Forest High School
1285 North McKinley Road
Lake Forest, Illinois, 60045
United States

Aiden Marquez

Student

Aiden Marquez is a senior at Lake Forest High School who has always been captivated by Monster films. From Gremlins to Godzilla, and all the creatures in between he has long adored the creativity behind their execution. At LFHS Aiden is an Animation 8 Honors student who produces stop motion short films and shares them on social media. Between school, work, exercising, working on his animations, and preparing for his electrician’s apprenticeship, he stays busy. Speaking on the TEDx stage, Aiden hopes people see that even the smallest things in life can have profound meaning if you let them.

Alia Attar

Student

Alia Attar is a senior and is thrilled to return to the TEDx stage for the second time! At school, they are involved with Human Rights Club, Art Club, and Choir. In Alia's free time, they can be found sewing, thrifting, reading, or listening to Wings (with Paul McCartney!). During their junior year, they researched the impact of Western beauty standards on students. However, their hypothesis ended up being wrong, and Alia's excited to share how her experiences have impacted her understanding of beauty, race, and history.

Avery Morris

Student

Avery Morris is a junior at Lake Forest High School and is very excited to take the TedX stage! In her free time, Avery is a part of the Debate Team, Model UN, plays clarinet and saxophone in various groups, and plays Field Hockey. Avery loves more than anything discussion, and growing through it. In her activities, Avery has learned what it means to talk to others and more than anything the power of informed debate.

Carolyn Stach

Student

Carolyn is a Sophomore at LFHS who is thrilled to be giving her first TEDx talk this year! She spends her free time with friends and making art, and at school, she is involved in sports, Math Team, and Women in STEM. She loves all things STEM and asking questions about how things work. During TEDxLFHS, Carolyn hopes to be on the other side of this and answer some questions about food allergies and explain the science behind them.

John Turelli

Student

John Turelli is a senior at Lake Forest High School, and is elated to be giving a TEDx talk this year! At school, he participates in theatre, is the choir board co-president, and is involved with many clubs. In his free time, John enjoys reading, going to the beach, playing guitar, spending time with his golden retriever, and writing music. He intends to pursue a career as an actor, and is very interested in the commercial musical theatre industry. He is very grateful for the opportunity to talk about both performance education and career paths within the performing arts industry.

Milana Yanev

Student

Milana Yanev is a junior at LFHS and is excited about speaking on the TEDx stage for the first time! She is involved with many activities, like New Media and Theatre, and also advocates for ethnicity representation and education through video work. Milana joined TEDx this year to share the importance of education around inquiring about others' ethnicity properly. In addition to video work, Milana is passionate about teaching others about different types of traditions and their importance in different cultures.

Niharika Singh

Student

Niki Singh is a senior at LFHS who is beyond excited to speak at TEDx for the very first time! She is deeply passionate about the arts, as she plays for the LFHS Wind Ensemble, LFHS Jazz Band, various jazz combos, and even records her own original music. Niki is also very passionate about social justice and philanthropy, as she partakes in Religious Diversity Club and Human Rights Club. Outside of school, she channels her passion for philanthropy and the arts while running her own nonprofit, OKTOBEME, where she sells original henna art and music to support various local, national, and global organizations. In her free time, she enjoys watching Bollywood movies with her family and perfecting her coffee-making skills. At TEDx, she looks forward to sharing her journey in redefining contentment and the lessons she’s learned from this experience.

Saige Joseph

Student

Saige Joseph is so excited to be back with TEDxLFHS for her third year. This year she will be talking about comedy and the way that it has influenced her life. In her free time she is a Captain of the Speech Team, involved in the Theater department, and loves to make people laugh. She can't wait to share her experience and thank you to everyone who has helped her along the way!