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).

BASIS Mesa
5010 S Eastmark Pkwy, Mesa
Gym
Mesa, Arizona, 85212
United States

Andrew Ghartey

BASIS Mesa Sophomore

I was born and raised in Arizona. My parents are originally from Ghana. I enjoy listening to music, running, and traveling.

Cameron Thomas

BASIS Mesa 7th grader

I was born in Malaysia, where I spent 10 years of my life. My mom is Malaysian, and my dad is American. I moved to Arizona in 2019 so I could come to BASIS. I love reading fiction and science, and I love robotics.

Elisabeth Pendergrass

BASIS Mesa Senior

Born and raised in Arizona, Elisabeth Pendergrass is both our resident film nerd and one of our seniors! Her favorite subject is history, her dream job is an "Underwater Videographer by Day, Screenwriter by Night”, and her speech was inspired by three weeks spent off the coast of California.

Elizabeth Ghartey

BASIS Mesa Sophomore

I like running, crocheting, irreverent comedies, and reading 20th century literature. I believe that an education that ends at graduation is an education wasted.

Karina Dwivedi

BASIS Mesa 5th grade

This is my third year at BASIS. I love ice skating and competing…maybe one day go to the Olympics. I love to play my Xbox in the short spare time I have.

Luca Huish

BASIS Mesa Senior

Luca is a Presidential Gold Volunteer Service Awardee, Bank of America Student Leader Awardee, 2021 National Merit Scholarship semi-finalist, Non-profit founder, and Eagle Scout. After seeing a friend impacted by her mother's medical needs, Luca and his brother Matteo, started a club raising money for families struggling with medical bills. That club has raised over $50,000 for families and was recently turned into a 501(c)(3). He is passionate about community service and advancing sustainable technological designs to mitigate Climate Change. He also loves to play basketball, ride the unicycle, and gaming with friends.

Matteo Huish

BASIS Mesa Sophomore

Matteo is a Presidential Gold Volunteer Service Awardee, Eagle Scout, and a community activist who founded a nonprofit with his brother raising over $50,000 for families struggling to pay for medical bills. Having helped so many families with cancer, and watching many of them die, Matteo is dedicated to helping find a cure. He started the Students Supporting Brain Tumor Research club in school raising money for brain tumor research and is creating a website motivating teens to take care of their bodies and minds.

Neelan Kumar

BASIS Mesa 6th Grader

Neelan was born in Gilbert AZ. She has lived her whole life in Mesa with mom, dad and little sister. Neelan has visited Canada, Iran, India, Italy, Germany and Switzerland. She would like to visit the United Kingdom next. Neelan sings and plays the piano.

Shaun Karakkattu

BASIS Mesa 2020 Graduate

Shaun Karakkattu is a Cornelius Vanderbilt scholar, Presidential Gold Volunteer Service Awardee, and an intern at PBS Newshour. Shaun has previously interned at the Translational Genomics Research Institute and worked with the Students Supporting Brain Tumor Research to raise money for cancer research. During the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, he also created a podcast named Youthomatic in which he connected with other youth around the United States to hear about their efforts in activism and research. Shaun was born in Dubai, UAE and has had a chance to visit and learn about many more countries! Shaun’s talk is on connection and how youth play a key role in addressing today’s problems.

Sydney Scheller

BASIS Mesa Senior

Sydney Scheller is a highly motivated high school senior at BASIS Mesa with interests in mathematics and computer science. Being both technically minded and detailed oriented, Sydney enjoys tackling challenging problems in a variety of practical disciplines. Sydney is a 2021 National Merit Scholarship semi-finalist, and was named Student of the Year at BASIS Mesa her 10th and 11th grade years. She has completed numerous online MITx courses in computer science and has developed the web presence for several local non-profit organizations. Sydney is Team Captain for the BASIS Speech and Debate Team, President of Board Game Club, member for National Honors Society, and was a Miss Teen Arizona Semi-Finalist in 2020. Sydney is the IT Director for Big Brothers and Sisters Serving Others. Sydney hopes to further her exploration of computer science and artificial intelligence when she starts her university studies in 2022.