Theme: Connections

This TEDx event offers “Connections” - a theme seeking to understand the connections we long for in each other, the connections that lead to curiosity and understanding about life and the world in which we live, and those connections that make the world a smaller place. Talks from students and adults who have a passion for sharing their special brands of connection will span an array of topics, ranging from the sciences, math, the arts, and social sciences. It is our hope that, typical of the TED tradition, our talks will inspire the imagination and generate interesting and important conversations.

3324 Ranch Road 620 South
Austin, Texas, 78738
United States

Alyssa Curry

Student

While Alyssa enjoys activities such as basketball and lacrosse, playing the cello is her passion. Playing the cello has allowed her to realize that education should be a more creative and authentic process.

Anna Sentmanat

Student

Anna enjoys reading for fun, drinking coffee, and tap dancing. She plays the violin and loves the universal and relatable aspects of music.

Audrey Harrisberger

Student

Audrey is very involved in choir, student council, her church - The Church at Lake Travis, and Young Life - a Christian youth ministry. She believes that learning to bounce back from change fosters resilience.

Bobby King

Naturalist + Sustainability Designer and Engineer

In nature, Bobby observes a dynamic balance connecting all of life. His creative background in art, skating, building, and design led him to meet others who share creative passions, travel, learn mandarin, practice healthy eating, and study traditional natural medicine. He feels that people should turn off their televisions and plant community gardens in order to connect with nature.

Christy Pipkin

Executive Director of The Nobelity Project

As Executive Director of The Nobelity Project, Christy Ellinger Pipkin works to bring the non-profit’s initiatives to fruition— creating motivating documentaries and short films, helming educational outreach in the US and abroad, and maintaining oversight on development projects around the world. She believes that by improving conditions in one community you improve the state of the global community, and by working together we tilt the world towards peace. Christy received the 2013 International Women’s Day Humanitarian Award from Ten Thousand Villages, and in 2015 was named a Woman of Distinction by the Girl Scouts of America.

Craig Cunningham

Writer + Film Director

Craig Cunningham is a writer and film director based out of Austin, Texas. He is a partner at Canowan, where he focuses on bringing stories and ideas to life.

Fiona McInally

Working Mom + Advocacy Co-Chair of World Vision's Women of Vision, Austin

Fiona McInally is a working Mom of two middle schoolers and the advocacy co-chair for Women of Vision, Austin, a volunteer ministry of World Vision. She helps mobilize and unite women who are called to invest their time, intellect, compassion, creativity, and finances so impoverished women and children might find hope and love.

Julia Hathaway

Student

Julia is a volleyball player and a debater, with a love to laugh, some crazy best friends, and way too much going on in her head, all the time. She enjoys reading and learning about the world we live in. As a debate and human geography student she understands conflict and human nature.

Mackenzie Matheson

Student

Mackenzie was born in Chicago, Illinois and moved to Lake Travis in her third-grade year. She is a member of the state-recognized DECA team and is an award-winning debater.

Matt and Jack Webb

Family of film documentarians

Jack and Matt Webb are just two of a five-member family of filmmakers and storytellers who took to the road for a year-long road trip to meet kid change-makers in all 50 states. Having collected 75 stories from across America, their hope is to share those tales in films, book, and events that inspire and equip others to make the world better. They want to celebrate amazing kids and help other children create sustainable movements of change in the world.

Max McGarry

Student

Max has a fondness for his saxophone, his guinea pigs, and cat videos. He also values relationships, which he believes are garnered through quality time and active connection.

Michelle Alderman

Program Director at Abundant Life Foundation

Michelle Alderman has devoted her life to building public awareness about some of the world's greatest challenges in developing nations. She works for the Abundant Life Foundation as a program director and is a very active member of the community, serving on the Lakeway Regional Medical Center's Woman's Advisory Council as well as its Disaster Readiness subcommittee.

Patricia Walsh

Triathlete + Engineer

Diagnosed with a pediatric brain tumor, Patricia Walsh became blind at age five due to complications of surgery. As a teenager she struggled with depression and hopelessness. Today, Patricia is a world champion triathlete and award-winning engineer. She has raced in over 12 marathons and ultra-marathons. In 2011, she set the world record for blind athletes in the Ironman distance, blowing away previous female and male records by over 80 minutes. Patricia has a degree in Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, becoming one of the first blind engineers at Microsoft.

Rachel Hurt

Student

Rachel is 11 years old, born in Austin, the heart of Texas. She is an aspiring author, with love and support from her two loving dogs, genius brother, and caring parents, Brett and Debra Hurt. Rachel has judged start-up competitions at SXSW, Austin YPO Shark Tank, and earned the title of the "Official Honey Taster" for Deep Eddy Vodka.

Raya Siddiqi

Student

Raya is a proud Muslim-American, born in Texas with origins in Bangladesh. Raya is passionate about singing, working on cultural diversity issues, and charcoal drawing. She draws her inspiration from family around the world.

Riley Blankenship

Student

Riley enjoys spending time with family and friends, singing and playing the guitar, and dancing. She is currently a member of the Lake Travis High School drill team. Riley's perseverance is a key ingredient to her resilient outlook on life.

Walker Steck

Student

Walker enjoys playing any sport involving a paddle: tennis, racquetball, ping-pong, badminton, and pickleball. Because he values relationships, he understands the importance of accepting people as they are, even from the very first impression.