Theme: United

TEDxYouth@PHUHS presents United: an event dedicated to showcasing local voices with unique perspectives on where we can find unity in our daily lives. Our mission is to amplify ideas and methods of growing unity within our own communities. Through life-changing experiences, the arts, technology, and more, TEDxYouth@PHUHS invites 8 local speakers to share what it means to be a united society. We hope you join us Friday, March 4, to see our amazing speakers for yourself and to enjoy exhibitions of PHUHS music and art, and an included meal from our array of dining options. This is a formal event, with suggested business casual attire.

PHU Auditorium
1900 Omaha Street
Palm Harbor, Florida, 34683
United States

Aanya Bhandari

Palm Harbor University High School IB Student

Aanya Bhandari is a two-time Florida State Science and Engineering Fair winner and a BROADCOM MASTERS semi-finalist. She is currently pursuing a research opportunity at Georgia Tech for work in biotechnology and researching different applications of technology in healthcare.

Alice Messiah

Palm Harbor University High School IB Student

Alice Messiah is a junior in Palm Harbor University High School’s International Baccalaureate program. Born to parents whose example taught her the influence any one life can have, she longs to make her mark on not only the world but specifically on the people in it. She is passionate about justice and integrity, and plans to pursue a career in law. She was born in Egypt and grew up in the United States, leading her to explore the concepts of individuality and diversity, as well as the role they play in unity. She believes in the power of communication and practices authentically reaching people through creative writing, public speaking, and consistent involvement in many aspects of her community.

Christina Velasco

University of South Florida Graduate Student

Christina Velasco is a graduate student at the University of South Florida and will graduate with her Masters in Social Work this spring. Her professional experience is extensive as she has worked with pediatric oncology patients, survivors of gender-based violence, individuals experiencing mental health crises, and families coping through bereavement. Her own personal experiences with mental health and trauma have led her to advocate and raise awareness for the issues that matter most to her.

Kevin Schachter

Department Chair of CABAM, District Director of FBLA

Kevin Schachter is the Department Chair of the Career Academy of Business Administration and Management at Palm Harbor University High School and a District Director for Future Business Leaders of America. He has been a teacher in Pinellas County Schools for over 15 years, and before that, spent over 20 years in the Restaurant and Hotel Industry. He has been developing leaders since he was a young leader in college. He was the PHUHS Teacher of the Year in 2018. He is excited to give his first TED talk, having been a fan for many years. He is married to Michelle Schachter and has one pre-teen child.

Magdalena Shafee

Civil Engineer and Marching Band Teacher

Magdalena Shafee is a Civil Engineer and recent graduate of the University of South Florida. By day, she works in the construction management industry, but by night she teaches marching band and mentors young musicians during their high school years. She has been an instrumentalist and conductor for 12 years; she learned to play trombone, euphonium, trumpet, and tuba, and has performed with marching bands at the high school, collegiate, and professional levels.

Rob Curls

Chief Architect at Microsoft

Rob Curls is a Chief Architect at Microsoft where he has the honor and privilege to serve customers across the Department of Defense. As an expert in the Technology field, Rob has been building, training, and leading elite teams across industries such as Healthcare, Financial Services, Professional Services, and Defense for over 20 years. Outside of work, Rob volunteers as a supervisory committee member with Grow Financial Credit Union, and is most passionate about spending time with his family, and his love for the outdoors.

Sarvana Pat Bhava

Entrepreneur and Founder of Pikmykid

A Serial Entrepreneur, who started his career as a Commissioned Officer in the Indian Navy. He went on to become one of a few officers in the history of the Navy to be simultaneously qualified as a Fighter pilot and a Combat Diver- a rare distinction. After his exit from the Navy, Pat moved to Tampa Bay and reinvented himself as a serial entrepreneur. He is the founder and CEO of Pikmykid which serves over 2000 schools with over 2 Million users in all 50 states and seven other countries and employs 48 people with headquarters in Tampa, Florida, and development centers in Bangalore, India, and Cape Town, South Africa.

Susan Weaver

Director of the Museum of Ceramics

Susan Weaver is known for her dedication to her community, her family, and the well-being of anyone she seems to meet. She received a Master of Information Science from Clarion University of Pennsylvania, which she then used in her 25-year career as the Director of Library for Kent State University along with her work at Aristotle University in Thessaloniki, Greece. Currently, Susan is known for her role as the Director of the Museum of Ceramics (c. 2016-p). Susan’s ever-growing list of adventures and qualifications provide a unique perspective on the necessity of unity.