In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized (subject to certain rules and regulations).

Whitney High School
16800 Shoemaker Avenue
Cerritos, California, 90703
United States

Eshaan Vora

Student Speaker

Eshaan is an upcoming junior at Whitney High School and has been interested in public speaking and spreading his ideas where he goes. While many refer to him as a dreamer, Eshaan is a passionate learner of the economy and an active member of numerous speaking clubs, while spreading motivation to himself and many on the right track toward the American dream and investing in the future. ​

Gabriel Avalos

Student Speaker

Gabriel Avalos is currently a junior at Whitney High School where he is constantly busy and trying to do it all. He has a passion for politics and is involved with the Association of Latin American Students, Mock Trial, Model United Nations, and Junior State of America. When not working with those clubs or doing something for school, he is always listening to music. Gabriel's favorite artists range from The Beatles to Arcade Fire, David Bowie to Kanye West, Radiohead to Neutral Milk Hotel, and even My Bloody Valentine to Carly Rae Jepsen. If you're interested in listening to some of the music by Morrissey and The Smiths, make sure to check out this Spotify playlist curated by Gabriel himself: https://open.spotify.com/user/gabriel_avalos/playlist/1KZE06WotSrH5jR5fqf1NF

Insha Khan

Student Speaker

Insha Khan is a senior at Whitney High School who has been in love with TEDx since attending her first conference in 2015. She loves to be busy working on Whitney High School Live, Pen on Paper, Fashion Club, and costumes for WHS productions. When she has some free time, you can find Insha blogging about her outfits or watching her pet rabbit look cute. She would like to thank her family, friends, and mentors, Mr. Rod Ziolkowski, Mrs. Jodi Improta, Mrs. Sasha Leonardo, and Hafiz Bilal Lakhani, for being her biggest supporters.

Janice Montecillo

Student Speaker

Janice Montecillo is a senior at Western High School. Janice takes an avid interest in storytelling, founding her school's newspaper, streaming podcasts with two peers, and participating in spoken word. Drawn to the peculiar, she seeks to unearth and challenge nuances in the human condition and at the same time, develop her expertise in microwavable macaroni and cheese. ​

Jared Santa Maria

Student Speaker

Jared Santa Maria is a junior at Troy high school. He is co president of his school’s Red Cross Club as well as his school’s treasurer of the FBLA(Future Business Leaders of America) Club. Along with club leadership at school he also is part of his church's leadership that help teach incoming teens achieving Confirmation. For leisure he enjoys lifting and running for Troy's track team. He enjoys coding and hopes to work in computer science for his profession. Jared is grateful that he has the opportunity to speak at the Whitney High School TEDx Conference.

Jason Jewik

Student Speaker

Jason Jewik is a sophomore at Whitney High School who enjoys spending most of his time on Reddit then wondering where all his time went. In addition, this will be his second time speaking at TEDx. Since the last time he spoke, he has completed programming a video game titled Interitus and is currently leading development for a new one. He is quite excited for the future of video games as a forefront for not only art and entertainment but as a form of education as well. ​

Julia Cecilia

Student Speaker

Julia Cecilia is a current 11th grader, attending Troy High School. She is a member of the Troy Varsity Dance Team and has been dancing outside of school for 6 years. Along with her passion for dancing, she enjoys playing the piano during her spare time. She also enjoys public speaking and discussing various topics through programs such as Mock Trial and Speech & Debate. She enjoys engaging with her community through volunteering at senior livings and the CHOC club. Julia is honored and excited to be a student speaker for Whitney High School's TED event.

Nhi Truong

Student Speaker

Nhi Truong has a tendency to apologize to inanimate objects. She has a beautiful family in which she plays the role of angsty teenager and has okay hair. As President of Key Club, she has learned how to love people and the world around her. Nhi Truong likes writing, photography, and art. She is bad at writing biographies.

Rod Ziolkowski

Faculty Speaker

Rod Ziolkowski has been a teacher for 33 years. The majority of that time he taught Chemistry and Physics, but he has also taught English, Drama, and Biology. Over the last 15 years his interests have slowly shifted to Digital Media—Film Making, Digital Photography, Broadcast TV, and most recently Game Design. He has been blessed with a life packed with opportunities and rich experiences, raised a son, Aaron, who he is most proud of, and he is very grateful to be able to share his life with his wife Nancy.

Stella Linardi

Student Speaker

Stella Linardi is a student at Whitney High who aspires to become a business leader and role model for those younger than her. Stella values hard work and compassion, good company, and likes to spend her free time analyzing movie scenes and trying to guess the instruments playing in film scores. When she is not at school...just kidding, she always is. She seems to always be studying and working at Whitney all the time, which may contribute to the fact that she has an overwhelming amount of school spirit and love for the students at Whitney. Stella would like to thank her God, family, and best friends for supporting her and always pushing her to be the best that she can. ​

Zereen Amy Ahmed

Student Speaker

Zereen Amy Ahmed is currently a senior at Whitney High School who has an intense fear of public speaking but decided to take on TEDx to challenge herself, share what she is most passionate about, and prove otherwise to those who doubted her capabilities. Competing against yourself is the best way to grow in her opinion so upgrading from sitting in the audience once upon a time to being up on stage and delivering a speech is a huge accomplishment for her that she is incredibly grateful for. She has a passion for writing, is a lover of all things creative, and aspires to become a high school English teacher one day. Aside from occupying herself with school, Zereen enjoys spending time with friends and family, immersing herself in nature, throwing surprise parties, and baking sweet treats. Zereen would like to thank her best friend Ayesha for always believing in her from the start of this journey and her creative writing class for inspiring her to speak about her topic today.