Theme: Changing Currents

In a world where norms of society hinder individuals from speaking out or challenging existing ideas, there are those that have the determination and initiative to voice their ideas worth spreading. They are the ones that become the movers and shakers of the human race. Each and every one of us has the potential to embody the characteristics needed to push for drastic changes. With the right mindset, any of us can change the existing currents of society.

Brooklyn Technical High School
29 Fort Greene Place
Brooklyn, New York, 11217
United States

Akhilesh Khakar

Student and Entrepreneur

Akhilesh Khakhar is a passionate and determined student entrepreneur. He is the President of PrepUP, LLC - Revolutionizing test prep by bringing people together to study. PrepUP: The New SAT and ACT Prep App is an educational app for High School students in an effort to help them ace the SAT and ACT in a fun way with their friends. PrepUP was the top 5 educational app in several countries and has been featured by Apple over 15 times. Akhilesh Khakhar was the i.Invest National Youth Entrepreneur of the Year, won the Babson Boston Cup pitch competition, and was named Crain’s 20 Under 20. Akhilesh loves to share his entrepreneurial experiences and has lectured to the Summer Study students at Babson College and is scheduled to speak at Futuros Empreendedores, in Sao Paulo Brasil.

Ashmini Weerakoon

Student Advocate

Ashmini Weerakoon is a senior in the Chemical Engineering Major. She is a Sri Lankan-American and lives in Jamaica, Queens. Some of her hobbies include weight lifting, reading, and debating. During her tenure at Brooklyn Tech, she founded her own club, Doctors of Tomorrow to help students gain expertise about the medical field. She has also won several awards for the Model UN Team at international conferences, and became a Student Advocate for her district. She plans to pursue Biochemistry and International Relations in the future to explore a career in Public Health. Ashmini firmly believes that this generation has the power the enact the changes they want to see in the world.

Brandon Steiner

CEO of Steiner Sports Marketing

Brandon Steiner is the founder and chairman of Steiner Sports Marketing and Memorabilia, the largest company of its kind in America. Brandon grew up as a poor kid in Flatbush, Brooklyn with a passion for sports and drive for success. Brandon started Steiner Sports with $4,000 and a Macintosh computer and has since created a sports empire. Brandon has partnered with some of the biggest names in sports including the New York Yankees, Madison Square Garden, Derek, Jeter, Eli Manning, and many others. Brandon is a permanent fixture in the media, and has authored two books; “The Business Playbook” and “You Gotta Have Balls.” Brandon currently resides in Scarsdale, NY with his wife Mara and has two children, Crosby and Nicole.

Divya Tulsiani

Student and Activist

Divya Tulsiani is a South Asian young woman who aspires to be an attorney. Her desire to advocate for others first began when she was bullied by her classmates and felt as though she didn't have a voice. From then on, her passion for the legal field only grew. She held her first job as a legal assistant in a law firm at 14 years old. By her junior year, she has completed programs at both Georgetown University and Harvard University, started an organization at Brooklyn Tech to educate students on their rights, become Captain of the Brooklyn Tech Moot Court Team, become a member of Brooklyn Tech Mock Trial, and has started her term as the Student Advocate on the Student Government board. Despite being a woman of color (a traditionally underrepresented group in the legal world), Divya continues to make strides towards building her future, as well as developing her passion and talent.

John Logan

Magician and Keynote Speaker

Before he turned 24 years old, John Logan hosted his own show on Patriots.com, published two books, was on America's Got Talent, and spoke at the Forbes Live Summit. John currently presents keynotes on creativity and intrinsic motivation for leadership conferences. In the beginning of the 2017 season, the New England Patriots had John perform for the players on a weekly basis where he promoted his message that 'impossible is just a word.' At the end of the 2017 season, the New England Patriots pulled off the greatest comeback of all time during Super Bowl 51.Did John have anything to do with that? Media outlets 'credit' him for the win, but we'll let you decide on that one.

Jolijt Tamanaha

CMO and CFO at Fresh Prints

Jolijt grew up in Queens. She went to Washington University in St. Louis. She sold her first business when she was 19 years old. And now she's the CMO & CFO of Fresh Prints, a custom apparel startup that empowers student entrepreneurs.