Theme: Future World

TEDxLFHS is a TEDxYouth event designed to highlight LFHS students, teachers and innovative thinkers that have ideas worth spreading. Our 2020 theme was Future World, and the event placed a strong emphasis on empowering young people in Lake Forest, area schools, and around the world. TEDxLFHS 2020 was held on March 12th, 2020 in the David Miller Theater at Lake Forest High School.

Lake Forest High School
1285 N. McKinley Rd
Lake Forest, Illinois, 60045
United States

Alex Mutter

Student

Alex Mutter is currently a senior at LFHS. Since moving from across the pond seven years ago, he has developed a strong passion for science and business— next year he hopes to study either biomedical sciences or medical innovation and enterprise in the UK. An avid cyclist, Alex spends his early mornings of the weekend on long rides throughout the North Shore. On other days, he is burrowed at home watching rugby games or Formula One races. Through his talk, he hopes to give insight on the future of our diets with the advent of rapidly growing “lab cultured meat” technology.

Alexandra Anderson

Student

Alexandra Anderson is an eighth grader at Deer Path Middle School and loves participating in choir and theatre. She is very passionate about science as well as analytical writing. Alexandra enjoys spending time with her family and friends along with visiting the Botanical Gardens. Looking forward to sharing what she has experienced in the world of choir and its benefits, Alexandra hopes to learn from her collaborators and what it is like to be a part of the TEDx experience. She is very grateful for the opportunity.

Amy Francetic

Managing Director, Buoyant Ventures

Amy Francetic is founder and Managing General Partner of Buoyant Ventures, a new venture fund in Chicago that aims to invest in digital climate solutions. She previously founded and led Energize Ventures. Her career spans over 20 years of high technology entrepreneurship, private equity, and research. Amy also co-founded and served as CEO of technology accelerator Clean Energy Trust. Amy also held roles at private equity firm MVC Capital and Stanford Research Institute. Earlier in her career, she was co-founder and CEO of a tech company that she sold to Lego Systems, and she helped fundraise for mobile gaming company, GluMobile, on whose board she served until it went public on the NASDAQ. Amy has a BA from Stanford University. She is married to Jason Rubinstein and is the mother of Lucy and Sydney Rubinstein.

Bide Akande

Lawyer/Comedian

Bide is an associate in the firm’s Litigation Department where he focuses his practice on commercial litigation. Bide has experience litigating commercial matters arising out of construction disputes, real estate foreclosures, employee non-compete agreements, and general breach of contract claims. He has also assisted clients in arbitrating various matters. Prior to joining private practice, Bide was an intern with the Cook County Public Defender’s Office as well as a law clerk for the Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation.

Blake Talwar

Student

Blake Talwar is a senior at Lake Forest High School and is elated to speak about his experiences and beliefs on coming out. As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, coming out has been a pivotal part of his life and he hopes to discuss the impact it has had on him. He participates in a wide array of activities including Model United Nations, tech crew, and Asian Pacific American Club to name a few. In his free time, he enjoys binge watching shows (he is currently watching Bob’s Burgers), reading, and spending time with his dogs Vader and Bow.

Celeste Tomaselli

Student

Celeste Tomaselli is a Junior at Lake Forest High School. She is thrilled to be making her TEDx debut and will be speaking about the eight different types of intelligence. In her free time Celeste likes to hit things with a stick to make rhythm. You can see her drum in every band event, every football game (Go Drumline!), and most acts of the talent show. She also is an avid member of the theatre department but you will frequently not see her because she works behind the scenes. She would like to thank everyone who helped her get here.

Corey Winchester

Educator

Corey Winchester is an educator who teaches US History and Sociology of Class, Gender, and Race at Evanston Township High School in Evanston, Illinois. There he also serves as the staff coordinator of the Students Organized Against Racism (SOAR) organization and is the Induction Coordinator for District 202's newly hired licensed staff. In 2016, he received a Distinguished Alumnus Award from the School of Education at Loyola University Chicago. Corey served for four years on the Board of Directors of Evanston Scholars, a non-profit college access and success program supporting first-generation, low-income, and students of color. For the 2018-19 school year, he is working as a Teaching Policy Fellow for Teach Plus Illinois. He earned his BS in Education and Social Policy from Northwestern University, his MEd from Loyola University Chicago in Cultural and Educational Policy Studies, and is currently pursuing an EdD in Educational Leadership at DePaul University.

Evan Jasica

Student

Evan Jasica is a Senior at Lake Forest High School. A lifelong musician, he is a member of several extracurricular music groups and serves as the Senior Drum Major of the LFHS band. Outside of music, Evan pursues a passion for English as a member of the speech team and independent writer. He also enjoys a great love of the outdoors as an Eagle Scout and long-standing TA of the outdoor education course. A fascination for music’s connection to our emotions led him to study its application in medicine and in our everyday lives.

Ian Jackson

Student

Ian Jackson is a junior at Lake Forest High School. He is excited to share his story about his backpacking trip in Wyoming for 30 days. Ian loves trying new and different things. He does this by being a part of many different clubs, sports, and events in school. Most recently he was in the Talent Show, and one of the videos he created in New Media was highlighted in it. Ian finds that one of the best ways to live life is by having as many different interesting experiences as you can. That is why he decided to do a month long backpacking trip. He is very passionate about nature and the environment. He feels that everyone should truly cherish and be a part of nature as much as they can.

Joaquin Stephenson

Director of Equity and Family/Community Engagement

Joaquin works to bring families, educators, and community partners together to support academic success and the healthy development of all students. He does this by building relationships and identifying opportunities to connect and inspire families as partners and leaders.

Lucy Rubinstein

Student

Lucy is a musician and Lake Forest High School student.

Sophie Huddlestun

Student

Sophie Huddlestun is a sophomore who is beyond thrilled to be a part of this event. TED talks inspire her all the time, and she can’t wait for a chance to inspire others. She loves traveling and has been to 25 countries, plays the ukulele, and loves researching Latin and Psychology. She obsesses over The Catcher in the Rye, Friends, Pitch Perfect, hedgehogs, macaroni and cheese, and Shawn Mendes. In school, she is involved in Latin Club, plays lacrosse in the spring, and she played on the girls’ ice hockey and field hockey teams during the fall. Sophie can’t wait to take the 2020 stage and share her story.

Sydney Rubinstein

Student

Sydney is a musician and Lake Forest High School student.

Sylvia Kollasch

Student

Sylvia is a musician and Lake Forest High School student.

Will Elliott

Student

Will Elliott is a Junior at LFHS with roles as Student Council Class President, Debate Speech Chair, and a player in the school soccer program. A lifelong writer, content creator, and 21st century learner, he thrusts himself into new opportunities with a non-traditional approach and a critical eye. And despite all the jargon, he never takes himself too seriously.

Willow Volkert

Student

Willow is a senior at Lake Forest High School and fills her time with more activities than she could possibly count. She is passionate about running, the environment, volunteering, seeing the world from different perspectives, and learning about other cultures. By attending Culver Academies, a six week military camp in rural Indiana every summer, she has had the opportunity to meet people from around the globe and accomplish tasks she never thought possible. Willow joined TEDx this year to share the place where she has learned the most about what it means to be a good person, and inspire others to partake in new activities, because you never know how much good will come out of it.