Theme: In-Sync

Enthusiastic Speakers from Local High schools with ideas in Technology, science, Art and Health are sharing with the community to take action to improve, seek benefit. Event is planned, organized by the youth for the youth with little help from adults. The community and the Augusta Technical college is supporting and sponsoring this event.

Augusta Tech collage Auditorium
3200 Augusta Tech Dr
Augusta, Georgia, 30906
United States

Adnan Aljaroudi

Student

Adnan AlJaroudi is a sophomore attending Lakeside High School in the Pre IB program. Adnan plays an active role in many school clubs and is a leader in the Muslim Student Association. As his interests reside in both engineering and medicine, he has always been intrigued in how things are made and how innovations can help society. Growing up playing competitive basketball, Adnan has always been an avid athlete, and in his speech he hopes to raise awareness about sudden sports injuries

Anunya Madhavaraman

Student

Anunya Madhavarman is a pre-IB freshman at Lakeside High School. She’s interested in cardiology, psychology, and youth activism, carrying her strong spirit through her academic and social endeavors. She participates in HOSA, Neuroscience club, Spanish NHS, and softball. Her design and avid communication skills are showcased through her community service and leadership, such as in Georgia 4H. Anunya wants to bring awareness of the limits of mental health support in schools and educate on how adults and students can strengthen their own relationships to take charge of their own mental health

Dev Shetty

Student

Dev Shetty is a 15-year-old tenth grader at Lakeside High School. He is passionate about science and technology and strives to make a positive impact on the world through innovation and compassion. He is in the Boy Scouts of America where he gives back to the community through public service and building leadership skills. In his speech, he hopes to highlight the false sense of division that we feel as a nation and overcome the conflict that comes with it.

Eliana Benevides

Student

Eliana Benevides is an IB junior at Lakeside High School. She is a leader in Lakeside's Science National Honor Society, National Honor Society, and Youth Board's Executive Committee. Eliana enjoys competing in both athletics and academics, whether running for the cross country and track teams or studying for Science Olympiad and National Science Bowl. Additionally, she enjoys playing flute in both Lakeside's Wind Ensemble and marching band. Having experienced anorexia in the past, Eliana hopes to raise awareness about eating disorder recovery through her discussion of the neurobiology of eating disorders

Elisa Gramer

Student

Elisa Gramer is a pre-IB sophomore at Lakeside High School with a passion for both academics and arts. In Spanish NHS and NHS, Elisa excels in her studies while pursuing her creative interests. Elisa started ballet at three years old, now performing with the Augusta Ballet Company. Dance has taught her a deep sense of connection that extends beyond the stage. In her future, she plans to pursue a career in a STEM field. Elisa will discuss how ballet has impacted her life—how she’s in-sync with others, her body, and her emotions. She aims to inspire others to discover the life-changing impact of arts

Kavya Patel

Student

Kavya Patel is a 15-year-old sophomore at Lakeside High School. Her TEDx Talk, The Power of Now, focuses on how mindfulness can reduce stress and improve mental health. Inspired by the challenges of balancing schoolwork and activities like performing on stage, she discovered mindfulness as a way to find clarity and peace. Through her talk, Kavya hopes to inspire others to live in the moment, helping them experience less stress and more fulfillment. She aims to share this simple yet transformative practice with a wider audience.

Om Patel

Student

Om Patel is a sophomore at Lakeside High School in the pre-IB program. He is interested in science and innovation, deepening his aspirations for a future in the medical field. He is active in his community, primarily through the Boy Scouts of America as a Life Scout working on his Eagle. He is also involved in clubs like HOSA and Science Olympiad. One of his main hobbies is sports, and he plays for the Lakeside Soccer Team. Om wants to give this talk because of his passion for technology and sports and due to the innovations we have recently experienced.

Sai Lakkimsetti

Student

Sai Lakkimsetti is a sophomore at Lakeside High School with a passion for neuroscience and public health. In his free time, Sai enjoys music, cooking, biking, and spending time with his family. His TEDx talk explores how the brain perceives time and how understanding this process can help us be more mindful. Sai hopes to bridge the gap between complex neuroscience concepts and everyday life by presenting ideas that are accessible, actionable, and transformative. He is dedicated to fostering curiosity in brain health and community outreach programs.

Saumya Patel

Student

Saumya Patel is a junior at Greenbrier High School. He is enrolled on the Advanced Placement pathway and has taken 9 advanced placed courses so far. Saumya loves to play tennis and will play for the team this year. Saumya also takes pride in his role in Model UN winning countless rewards. In his free time, he loves to work out and play video games. In his speech, he will talk about discipline, its benefits, and the great importance to achieve greatness.

Trinity Henderson

Student

Trinity is an IB senior at Lakeside High School. She is committed to Duke University, where she plans to major in neuroscience and seek opportunities to explore neurodegenerative disorders in children. Still, her passion for the humanities shines through her love of visual media. In her free time, Trinity balances light-hearted, “mind numbing” movies and films that invite deeper analysis. Public speaking has become a platform for her to hone in on how films capture the intersection of culture, society, and history. Her talk will center around Waves and Moonlight, using them to inspire conversation about the cultural forces that shape us.

Vithyash Ayyappan

Student

Vithyash Ayyappan is a sophomore at Evans High School. He is the Sergeant at Arms Officer for his local Gavel Club and is involved in clubs at Evans. He is a dedicated leader, believing that public speaking enhances his confidence and helps freely share his ideas. Vithyash’s goal is to bring awareness of the power of networking, permitting people to identify their hidden potentials and use their abilities to help them with their futures. He is passionate and believes his talk will be informative and give him a deeper understanding about his future plans in the medical field.