Welcome to the Plastikeers TED Ed Student Talks Showcase 2023.
Let’s us introduce you to our speakers.
Arya Shankar:
Arya is a sophomore at Neuqua Valley High School. She is passionate about advocacy through public speaking and has been a member of Plastikeers for three years. At School, Arya is a Youth and Government and Student Council member and enjoys volunteering. Outside of School, she is a journalist intern and is a part of CYSO as a flutist.
Arya’s speech is titled “From Self Doubt to Self Discovery – The Fluidity of Career Paths.”
It highlights the pressures on students to figure out their career paths at an early age. It encourages students to embrace change while acknowledging the challenges of societal expectations and self-doubt. Please welcome Arya!
Nikhila Nanduru:
Nikhila (known by her companions as Nikki) is a 6th-grade student at Granger Middle School. She has been a member of Plastikeers for over two years and will continue her public speaking journey here. Beyond school, she engages in various activities such as classical dance and Carnatic music and is interested in astrology and medical-related topics.
Nikki’s speech about Zodiac Signs dives into the distinctions between signs, exploring their personalities, history, public perceptions, and the trust associated with these signs. Let’s welcome our next presenter and astrology aficionado, Nikki!
Rohith Chittaluri:
Rohith is a 6th-grade student at Granger Middle School. He is a robotics enthusiast and participates in the VEX robotics program. Beyond School, Rohith plays tennis and learns Carnatic music.
Rohith’s speech, “The Path Forward: Harnessing Nuclear Energy For A Sustainable Future, ” is primarily driven by carbon-based fuel emissions and is a pressing issue promoting a search for alternatives.
Please give Rohith a warm welcome!
Kaushik Bagavathy:
Kaushik is a sixth grader at Crone Middle School. He is passionate about public speaking and has been a member of Plastikeers for the last three years. At School, Kaushik is part of the math club. Beyond school, he learns Carnatic music and plays Chess and Soccer.
Kaushik’s speech, “Will Nano Technology help change the world?” highlights the positive impact of nanotechnology in different fields like Sports, Medicine, and Information Technology. It encourages the audiences to explore the additional benefits of nanotechnology in other areas.
Please welcome Kaushik!
Hridhaan Parekh:
Hridhaan is a sixth grader at Scullen Middle School who enjoys reading. His passion includes playing tennis, and he loves connecting with friends. He aspires to be an entrepreneur when he grows up.
Hridhaan’s speech. “Population Growth” talks about various phases of population growth in countries, what they go through, and whether there are any positives of expanding the population.
Please welcome Hridhaan!
Manidweep Mutyala:
Manidweep is a 7th grader at Granger Middle School. He has known about attacks of cyberbullying and has wanted to spread awareness for a long time. He has been a member of the Plastikeers Gavel Club for three years. Manidweep participates in the Science Olympiad team and is involved in an out-of-school Robotics program.
His speech, “Cyberbullying and its Impact on Humanity,” explains what cyberbullying is and how it affects victims. Please welcome Manidweep!
Dhanush Chittaluri:
Dhanush, a sophomore at Metea Valley School, has been a member of Plastikeers for three years. He is a member of the DECA, Robotics, and Speech clubs. Dhanush also plays tennis for his school. Outside of school, he values spending time with friends and family and playing basketball.
His speech, titled: The Change of Negative Peer Pressure to Positive Growth, shows the peer pressure that young adolescents experience from many different areas, such as the people around us, social media, and stereotypes. The stage is yours, Dhanush!
Vanshika Shetty:
Vanshika is a sophomore at Neuqua Valley High School. She has been a member of Plastikeers for over six years. She participates in several activities at school, including Youth and government, Student Council, and Speech team.
Her speech, titled “From Playgrounds and Boardrooms: The Value of Child Entrepreneurship,” starts with the lemonade stands or the little businesses we all remember from childhood. These may have felt like trivial experiences, but their impact on young minds is remarkable.
Please welcome Vanshika!
Sajiv Harikrishnan:
Sajiv is a junior at Waubonsie Valley High School. He is enthusiastic about public speaking and helping others achieve their speaking goals. At School, Sajiv participates in many clubs, including the Science Olympiad, Speech Team, and Model United Nation. Outside of School, Sajiv loves playing table tennis and cricket. He plans to pursue a career in the medical field.
Sajiv’s speech “High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound: A Solution to the Unsolvable” is about a relatively new scientific discovery: High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound.
The speech highlights the increased use of high-intensity focused ultrasound and its vast potential in neurosurgery.
Please welcome Sajiv to the stage!
Sai Mutyala:
Sai is a junior at Metea Valley High School and has been a member of Plastikeers for over three years. He is interested in spreading awareness about the future of aerospace. At school, Sai is a member of the Robotics and Math Team. He hopes to pursue his passion for aerospace and work in the space industry.
Sai’s speech, “The Future of Space Travel,” briefly introduces the Space Industry and highlights the current and possible future advancements in Space Travel.
Please welcome Sai!