TEDxCarrollwood Day School

Speakers

Speakers may not be confirmed. Check the event website for the latest lineup.

• Aadi Patel

  My name is Aadi Patel, and I am a junior in high school. Coming from an Indian family, the culture and values passed down from my parents played a huge role in making me who I am today. My culture is what led me to participate in street plays in the first place and allowed me to share this wonderful performance and experience with others.

• Alina Knisley

  Hello! My name is Alina Knisley, and I am a current sophomore at Carrollwood Day School. Throughout my life, I had discovered that achieving success is about making a difference, even when it can be challenging. My sister lives with an ultra rare physical disability called Morquio 4A Syndrome. It affects her bone growth and causes her to be small in stature. She inspires me to keep moving forward, one step at a time, and redefine success through my own eyes. I hope that my talk will inspire people to leave the world better than they found it, and create their definition of success through their perspective. I am so incredibly grateful to be giving a Ted talk on a topic that I am so passionate about, and I hope to be able to fully convey my thoughts on the subject and help others understand the importance of kindness.

• Alyssa Chen

  Hi, I’m Alyssa Chen, a junior at Carrollwood Day School and an aspiring anesthesiologist. I love science and mathematics, and I’m currently conducting research on how different beta blocking drugs affect the heart. I’m also passionate about music and creative expression, and I’ve been playing violin and piano since I was 6 years old. As someone who has tried (and quit) virtually every extracurricular under the sun, I’ve learned that sometimes it’s better to pivot; we don’t have to be constrained by what we start out with. I hope my talk can help us all find ways to take risks and pivot in our own lives.

• Bryan McGrath

  Although technology and skill sets are ever rapidly evolving, one true constant is the power of connection. Hello, I’m Bryan McGrath, but better known as Mr. M, to my elementary students. For over a decade I have taught, adapted, and laughed with over 1400 students in the tech lab of schools here in the Tampa area. Allow me to share a few insights on how even small interactions may have lasting effects.

• Cash Coppins

  Hello! I’m Cash Coppins, a senior at Carrollwood Day School. Soccer has been a major part of my life for the past 13 years, during which I’ve played at many different levels and experienced its ups and downs. As I’ve grown older, I’ve also watched more professional soccer, both in person and on TV. After attending Samford’s sports business camp in July 2025, I began reflecting on my experiences in the soccer world and exploring its business side—particularly in North America. My talk will examine the evolving business landscape of soccer in North America and highlight the areas where it still falls short of its potential. With soccer’s landscape continuing to shift, and as a fan of the game’s growth, I hope you leave my talk with something valuable or newly discovered.

• Gabriel Lopez

  Gabriel Lopez is an advocate, artist, and entrepreneur whose work focuses on equity, identity and opportunity. His TEDx talk explores how the concept of “American identity” is more fractured than we admit, and how rigid definitions of “American” versus “un-American” fuel exclusion and prejudice. Drawing on his work at the Hispanic Service Council, he teaches English to immigrant children and guides families through college counseling, he reframes the question 'What does it mean to be American?' as 'What does it mean to be human?'. Gabriel is the founder of Opportunitree, an AI platform that connects underserved students to extracurricular opportunities, and a founding member of See Us Now, a student-led foster care awareness agency that lobbies for legislation and creates social media campaigns. His experiences in advocacy, from speaking at international conferences to receiving national recognition for his art, all reflect a commitment to building a more just and inclusive future.

• Gia Hưng Trần

  Trần Gia Hưng is a 12th-grade student at Carrollwood Day School, originally from Vietnam. Since the age of seven, he has trained in abacus mental math and memory techniques, even competing on national television and international competitions. In his talk, “Our Brain’s Hidden Dimension,” he explores how these visualization methods reveal the brain’s hidden potential to calculate faster than a calculator and memorize thousands of digits, and why internalizing them early makes them especially powerful, providing a glimpse into the power of creativity in expanding what the human brain can do.

• Lilly Jim

  Hi, I’m Lilly Jim, a sophomore and dedicated musician who plays violin, viola, and flute. Music has not only shaped me as a performer but has also strengthened my focus, discipline, and confidence—skills that extend far beyond the practice room. Through both my own journey and my experience teaching private students, I’ve seen how music education improves academics and builds stronger learners. My TEDx talk explores why music is not an “extra,” but an essential part of student success and thriving school communities.

• Nishant Shah

  Hello, my name is Nishant Shah. I’m a junior at Carrollwood Day School. I'm also a student, an actor, and I've always been curious about what real leadership looks like in practice. For a long time, I thought leadership meant being in charge- having the title, standing at the front of the room, and being the one people listened to. But by learning from leaders that shaped me, I’ve come to see leadership differently. In this talk, Leadership is an Action: Why Anyone Can Lead, I explore how leadership isn’t a position we hold, but an action we take. Leadership shows up in empathy, humility, and the courage to act when a situation calls for it. By challenging the myth of the great man, I invite others to see leadership as something deeply human and accessible, something anyone can practice daily by noticing needs and choosing to fill them.

• Noah Ozer

  I’m Noah Ozer, a senior here at Carrollwood Day School and I have spent my whole life traveling. Whether it was to visit family or go on a new adventure, I spent a lot of time creating meaningful relationships and embracing new cultures. Through these experiences I realized the importance of internationalism and diversity. For ages I thought that traveling was essential to being a “global citizen”, however through many initiatives and experiences serving as the Co-President of RoundSquare - I have learned that anyone can make an impact from where they stand. My talk will cover what it truly means to be a Global Citizen and how being more open-minded can heal our society.

• Simmon Chauhan

  Hello! I am Simmon Chauhan, a senior at Carrollwood Day School. I started dancing Bhangra when I was 10 years old, and over time it has grown into much more than just a dance for me. Through Bhangra I found confidence, leadership, and a way to express myself, which eventually led me to mixing music as another outlet to express culture and identity. My talk will focus on how Bhangra has shaped who I am and how it continues to influence different parts of my life.

• Spencer Peek

  Spencer Peek '16 is returning to Carrollwood Day School’s TEDx stage 11 years after speaking at the very first event. As a junior in 2015, Spencer shared a powerful talk on how people can emotionally and psychologically cope with unexpected or difficult change, offering insights on navigating transitions and ultimately growing through adversity. This year’s theme, Risk- Takers, perfectly reflects Spencer’s journey, as he exemplifies what it means to take risks, overcome challenges, and demonstrate resilience and grit in the face of adversity.

• Tahi Patel

  I'm Tahi Patel, a sophomore at Carrollwood Day School. I am a 15-year-old student-athlete who is passionate about leading through my actions. I strive to model leadership both on and off the court, serving as President of the Girls' Weightlifting team and Vice President of UNICEF. Balancing academics, athletics, and extracurriculars can be demanding, and I've seen firsthand how this push can lead to burnout. Learning how to recognize the symptoms early and stop them at the root has been essential to maintaining my goals as well as my health. Through my TEDx talk, I strive to raise awareness about the connection between burnout and vasovagal syncope and educate others on the importance of self-care and inspire others to approach challenges with resilience.