TEDxOlathe North HS

Speakers

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

• Aashi Raichura

  Aashi Raichura is a junior at Blue Valley West High School. Passionate about public speaking and aspiring to pursue a career in law, Aashi participates in her school's debate team and DECA program. Outside of school she stays involved with her local community through Johnson County Youth Court and Overland Park Teen Council. In addition to these extracurriculars, she enjoys dancing and traveling. Outside of school, Aashi loves taking on leadership roles and dedicates time to volunteering in the community, demonstrating a commitment to making an impact.

• Ariana Hajirasoliha-Ochoa

  Ariana Hajirasoliha Ochoa is a junior at Olathe North High School with a passion for helping others. She values compassion, advocates for impartiality, and pushes for coexistence every day. Outside of school she enjoys traveling, reading, and spending time with family and friends. Ariana strives to make an impact, one person at a time.

• Avin Farah

  Avin Farah is a Sophomore attending Blue Valley Northwest High School. Being a first-generation Iranian immigrant, she aims to inspire and motivate others to make their voice heard just as she has through her heavy involvement in Theater, Speech & Debate, Model UN, and extended speaking experiences at district, state, and national-level tournaments. Outside of public speaking extracurriculars, Avin works towards her aspirations in Dermatology through participation in countless medical organizations, including HOSA and AMWA, and forms connections with her peers through leadership positions in Student Government and FCCLA. Avin is also a 1st Dan Black Belt in Taekwondo, and enjoys spending time with her loved ones at every chance she gets.

• Emma Freeman

  Emma Freeman is a Junior at Olathe North High school. Goal driven and a passionate leader, she hopes to leave a powerful positive impact on the world. She is currently captain of her swim team, Junior class president, and NHS president for her 2026-2027 school year. She plans on continuing her education wherever that may take her. And outside of school she enjoys traveling, going out dancing, living active and healthy, and spending time with friends and family.

• George Hanna

  George Hanna is a junior at Olathe North. He is part of the Medical professions academy and has his eyes set on a career in the medical field. He is a part of HOSA, Science Olympiad, DECA, and is helping to create an Environmental Student Association and Middle Eastern Student Association at his school. In his free time he likes staying up to date with the world, going out with friends, and watching the behind the scenes on old movies and TV shows.

• Laura Darwish

  Laura Darwish is a Senior at Blue Valley Southwest High School. She is the Founder of the nonprofit KC MedBridge and an aspiring health law professional. In school, Laura serves as StuCo Exec Vice President, Executive Producer of Wolfbyte, and a board member of Diversity Club, SASA, and Sci-NHS. Outside of school, she participates in KU Research, Youth Court, and enjoys classical literature and iced water.

• Likhitha Vunnama

  Likhitha is a junior at Blue Valley North High School who enjoys public speaking. Her passion lies in the field of medicine, for which she continues to learn and contribute to research at KUMC. Inside school, she integrates her hard work for the Science Olympiad team and actively participates in Policy Debate. Combining her interests, she is thrilled to present the idea of how the brain can change for the better and what people can do to make that change.

• Madhava Bhadriraju

  Madhava Bhadriraju is a junior at Blue Valley West High School with a passion for entrepreneurship, technology, and his community. At school, his leadership in clubs, including Finance Club and Mu Alpha Theta, as well as competitive success in competitions such as DECA/BPA, AMC, and USACO, have augmented his skillset and interests. Outside of school, he enjoys building his startup, working on community initiatives, conducting data science research, and going to the gym. In the long run, Madhava seeks to either build a unicorn startup or work as a Quantitative Analyst for the Royals.

• Sanika Ghanekar

  Sanika is a junior at Blue Valley High School, balancing her academic pursuits while exploring her passions for business and healthcare. She enjoys playing the piano and creating music, as well as baking, cooking, reading, and traveling. Through her extracurricular experiences, she seeks to develop leadership skills, contribute to her community, and pursue a career that allows her to improve people’s lives and make a meaningful impact in both the corporate and medical fields.

• Sanjit Panditrao

  Sanjit is a Junior at Olathe North. He is part of the Distinguished Scholars: Math Academy and has a passion for math and science. Sanjit is also part of clubs such Scholars Bowl, South Asian Student Association, and Asian Student Union. Outside of school, he enjoys playing guitar, going to the gym, listening to music, and spending time with friends. Sanjit is interested in how AI will impact creative jobs in the future, and how to mitigate the effects.

• Scarlet Langhorst

  Scarlet is currently a senior at Liberty High School where she is completing her fourth year as a student in the EDGE Global Microschool. She plans to continue her education in Madrid next fall, where she will study Communications and PR. In her free time she likes to travel, dance, draw, and play The New York Times games.

• Srinivasa Vel

  Srinivasa Vel is a high school senior with aspirations to pursue a path integrating sociology and medicine. In his free time, he enjoys playing tennis, editing videos, and playing pool. He hopes to make a positive impact on communities in the future through meaningful work in public health and social advocacy.

• Vidhu Reddy

  Vidhu Reddy is a junior at Blue Valley Southwest High School in Overland Park, with a passion for athletics and music. Originally born in Lawrence, he found a passion for public speaking through his middle school teachers, often prompting him (against his will) to step outside of his comfort zone. Now, he serves as a Kansas HOSA State Officer and captain of his tennis team, earning statewide recognition for his speeches. He hopes to pursue a career in healthcare and make a positive impact on others.