Theme: Disruptive Diversity

TEDxYouth@BHS will celebrate diversity among youth. Students will spread their ideas and passions for a variety of topics including science, culture, education, motivation, self-esteem and more.

123 Cambridge Street
Burlington, Massachusetts, 01803
United States

Aashay Madhani

Born into a hard-working immigrant family from India, Aashay Madhani learned the importance of dedication and passion before he even learned to walk. Though only a Sophomore, Aashay has already founded three companies throughout his life. One of which was a BioMedical Device that placed #1 in the 2014 TyE Boston Business Plan Competition. On top of that, Aashay has been an active of member of the BHS Community. He curently serves as the Co-Executive Officer for DECA, VP/Co-Founder of the BHS Ping Pong Club, Class President, Co-Treasurer of Model U.N, Member of National Honor Society, Student Facilitator for The Ted Ed Club, and as an athlete on the Swimming and Baseball Teams. Aashay has also been studying Martial Arts for over 10 years now, and is a State Level Kickboxing Champion. He plans to one day study Business Finance, become an Investment Banker, and start his own Holdings Company.

Ansh Bhammar

Ansh Bhammar is a self-driven student at Burlington High School committed to learning and passionate about life sciences. He desires to have a career in neuroscience and biology and is fascinated by the human body. He is a leader in various school organizations including the Medical Careers Club, Science Olympiad, National Honors Society, BHS Mentoring, Varsity Tennis, and Student Government. To pursue his passion, he interned in the Microbiology Laboratories at Toxikon Corporation and volunteered at an Alzheimer’s Nursing Unit. Working in the lab confirmed Ansh’s predilection for scientific research while his volunteering experience strengthened his desire to improve the lives of others through patient interaction. Moreover, he gave TED-Ed talks on Antibiotic Resistance and The Neuroscience Behind Religion and blogs about his scientific reflections on thebeautyofmedicine.blogspot.com.

Ashley Olafsen

Ashley Olafsen is a Hopkinton High School senior who is passionate about self esteem, body image, media representation, mental health, and the things that are holding back teenagers from reaching their full potentials. Along with some friends, she has created and delivered over a dozen self confidence workshops to girls all over Massachusetts. She draws on her own personal experiences to make the most impact possible, and also includes videos and small group discussions in her workshops. Furthermore, she was a speaker at the 2014 MASSCue Conference in Foxboro, MA and a speaker at the 2015 CoSN International Symposium in Atlanta, GA. Currently, she is busy creating a five day summer program for middle and high school girls that will be fun, engaging, and empowering. She is looking forward to devoting her life to social causes, and will be creating her own major at UMASS Amherst in the fall. She plans to continue and expand exactly what she’s doing right now.

Ashley Olafsen

Ashley Olafsen a Hopkinton High School Senior who is passionate about self esteem, body image, media representation, mental health, and the things that are holding back teenagers from reaching their full potential. She has created and delivered over a dozen self confidence workshops to girls all over Massachusetts. She draws on her own personal experiences to make the most impact possible, and also includes videos and small group discussions in her workshops. Furthermore, she was a speaker at the 2014 MASSCue Conference in Foxboro, MA and a speaker at the 2015 CoSN International Symposium in Atlanta, GA. She has spent two years working on a book, and is hoping to move onto the publishing stage within a few months. Currently, she is busy creating a five day summer program for middle and high school girls that will be fun, engaging, and empowering. She is looking forward to devoting her life to social causes, and will be creating her own major at UMASS Amherst in the fall.

Ashwini Kulkarni

Ashwini Kulkarni amalgamates her diverse life experiences to become a jack of all trades, so to speak. She is a skilled dancer, poetry champion, and international traveler. With a charismatic persona and a talent and willingness to face challenges, Ashwini is the type of person who carries a unique air of respectability and compassion. She likes to volunteer at institutions as a cultural school, a dance based club, and a preschool. Ashwini has made numerous connections through the Spanish Exchange and developed her various skills through her engagement with her activities in her local community.

Bryn McMahon

Bryn McMahon is a senior at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. Born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania she graduated from Bishop McDevitt High School then continued on to Edinboro University where she now studies Criminal Justice with a hope of attending law school after graduation. Ever since her suicide attempt in 2010, it has been her mission to spread awareness of depression and mental health. With the help of her sorority sisters of Zeta Tau Alpha, she is hoping to spread the message not only on her college campus but at educational institutions everywhere.

Carlos Ojeda

Carlos Ojeda Jr. has been called one of the most dynamic speakers in America today. A former university administrator, professor and small business development center director, he now focuses his energy on empowering students to succeed by teaching them that their voice is their power. He is a youth development expert, with over fifteen years of experience inspiring students from elementary school to college, parents and education professionals in over 40 states. Combining his entrepreneurial spirit with his passion for changing the lives of youth across the country, he started CoolSpeak: The Youth Engagement Company. CoolSpeak is the leading youth engagement organization delivering unique programs and events to keep students inspired, parents involved and teachers engaged.

Cat Hoyt

Cat Hoyt is a senior at Burlington High School. She is passionate about her school and community and is a first year member of the Help Desk program where she serves as an educational technology consultant for the district of Burlington. She is the President of the Best Buddies Club in Burlington and Captain of the Varsity soccer team. Cat was elected into the National Honor Society sophomore year and has maintained her NHS status ever since. She is also a member of several other clubs including TED Ed, Alcohol Ed, and serves on the leadership team of Burlington’s Freshman Mentoring Program. Cat is passionate about community service and for the past four years has been a camp counselor and basketball coach for the Burlington Recreation Department. She has also worked at a local trampoline park. Cat was recently hired by the state of Massachusetts as a personal care assistant for a child with cerebral palsy and plans to pursue a career in occupational therapy in the future.

Domenic Roberto

Domenic Roberto is a senior at Sharon High School. For two years he has been a President of the school’s Feminism Club, Herstory. Getting males involved with feminist views is very important to him. While he wishes to study biology at Siena College next year, he is very passionate about social justice, especially gender-related issues. He has also led the school’s Spanish Club, which assists La Casa Nueva Vida Homeless Shelter in Jamaica Plain, for two years in addition to running track and cross country throughout almost every season (summer included) during his high school career. He assists his local church (Our Lady of Sorrows) with elementary school-level religious education and facilitating groups for the high school Confirmation classes monthly. While sad to leave all of these groups behind next year, he is confident about the future leadership taking over.

Dr. Joe Mazza

Dr. Joe Mazza serves as the Leadership Innovation Manager at the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education working with Mid-Career Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership (MCDPEL) faculty, students and alumni as well as supporting the Penn Center for Educational Leadership (PCEL). Joe also serves as a national family-community engagement advisor to the Institute for Educational Leadership in Washington, DC. Joe served as lead learner at Knapp Elementary School since 2007 before taking on the district edtech role. He has spent his career working with students, teachers & families as a 3rd grade teacher, bilingual assistant principal, middle school vice-principal, an elementary principal, while serving as a TV studio producer, webmaster and technology integration coach in each setting. He is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania with a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership.

Drew Kelley

Drew Kelley is a senior at Burlington High School. He is a four year member of the Varsity gymnastics team and works with aspiring gymnasts as a coach at the Burlington Recreation Center. Drew is excited to share his story and bring his positive message to the TEDXYouth@BHS audience.

Joe Mazza

Dr. Joe Mazza serves as the Leadership Innovation Manager at the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education working with Mid-Career Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership (MCDPEL) faculty, students and alumni as well as supporting the Penn Center for Educational Leadership (PCEL). Joe also serves as a national family-community engagement advisor to the Institute for Educational Leadership in Washington, DC. Before moving to higher education, Joe served as K-12 Project Manager for Connected Teaching, Learning & Leadership in the North Penn School District in Lansdale PA. He has spent his career working with students, teachers & families as a 3rd grade teacher, bilingual assistant principal, middle school vice-principal, an elementary principal, while serving as a TV studio producer, webmaster and technology integration coach in each setting. He is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania with a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership.

Nathan Rippin

Nathaniel Rippin is a senior at Burlington High School, a second year member of the Help Desk program as well as a member of the Burlington High School DECA program. Outside of school, Nathan serves as the Lead High School Ambassador for the college search app College Interactive. He is responsible for overseeing the recruitment of students onto the app as well as the College Interactive Ambassador Program. With over five years of social media marketing experience, Nathan has worked for clients including Lahey Health and Miss Mass and Outstanding Teen. He has also worked with various companies ranging from local coffee houses to multinational corporations. He is the Marketing Manager for his school’s robotics teams, an Eagle Scout within the Boy Scouts of America, and a member of the internationally renowned folk music group Iskwelahang Pilipino Rondalla of Boston.

Rosamaria Carlozzi

Rosamaria Carlozzi, Ph.D. is a perpetual student, avid traveler and passionate educator. As the daughter of Italian immigrants and native to southeastern Massachusetts, she has a love for other cultures, an interest in inspiring young people and a calling to write. As a polyglot and former language teacher, her adventurous travels have brought her to over thirty-three countries. Rosamaria’s work in education is vast and varied, working at the middle school, high school and university levels in different capacities. Whether educating students, evaluating teachers or guiding students to successfully acclimate to the United States from another country, Rosamaria is mindful of her vocation. She focuses on the ultimate purpose of changing people’s lives and inspiring them to become successful and contributing individuals in society. Over the last year, she completed her certificate as a life coach, choosing to specialize in young people and women.

Siddhartha Srivastava

My name is Siddhartha Srivastava, friends call me Sid. I am a junior at Burlington High School. I moved to the USA on August, 2014 from India and this is my first year in Help Desk. At a very early age I became curious and I began to help people.When I was 12, I tutored several students in math and science for free. I consider myself as a versatile student, and I try to excel in all three aspects of a student’s life; academics, sports and extracurricular activities. I love math, science and computers. I have many achievements while I was in India. I was a national level Science Olympiad finalist, a state level Mathematics Olympiad champion, and 3 times inter school G.K. Quiz champion. I have considerable amounts of achievements in Cricket, Soccer and Kabbadi. But unfortunately I haven’t been recognized in the tech field by anyone yet, that’s the reason I joined the BHS Help Desk.

Talon Bazille Ducheneaux

Talon Ducheneaux is a recent graduate from the University of Pennsylvania (c/o 2015), majoring in psychology. Coming from various Indigenous reservations in South Dakota, Talon’s experiences as a proud Lakota, Dakota, and human being have ranged from beautiful to ugly – all of which he has encapsulated and expressed in his over 20 free album discography, 2 poetry books, many various performances and speaking opportunities, and everything else he is working on. A true addicted lover for music and expressive art, Talon has managed to utilize the hip hop medium as a form of therapeutic expression and consolation throughout the various trials all throughout his life. Pointing at the high importance of not only expression, but also the power of listening, Talon tells his story and journey in any way that he can.

Timmy Sullivan

“Every Day is a First Impression” is the motto that Burlington High School Junior Timmy Sullivan has followed in the recent portion of his academic, professional, and personal career. Timmy is immensely passionate about education, and firmly believes quality education should be free to all students. He is constantly promoting effective use of technology to impact the online public education campaign, and to provide personalized learning for students worldwide. He stands to support and promote free scholastic resources as well as improve the quality of education in today’s academic system. He is eagerly pursuing studies in language and culture, marketing and communications, as well as technology integration. Of his many academic leadership positions, Timmy was awarded the title of Student Genius in Burlington’s Student Tech Team due to his outstanding contributions and leadership demonstration.