TEDxHopkinton HS Youth

Speakers

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

• Anushri Mishra

  Anushri is a student researcher at the Yale OCD Research Clinic and Harvard’s Center for OCD and Related Disorders. She previously conducted research on veteran PTSD at Georgetown University. Committed to translating neuroscience beyond academia, she serves as a board member for Shrewsbury Youth & Family Services and teaches neuroscience to girls around the world.

• Prakshi Jain

  Prakshi jain is a junior at HHS who believes in the power of stepping outside your comfort zone. Amidst the heavy load of junior year, Prakshi took a leap and joined the field hockey team for the first time. In her talk, Prakshi focuses on how sports build confidence, communication, and resilience.

• Sahasra Charkam

  Sahasra Charkam is a junior at the Massachusetts Academy of Math and Science and a dedicated leader within HOSA (Future Health Professionals). With a passion for bridging the gap between complex clinical research and practical community support, Sahasra focuses her work on the human impact of neurological and hematological conditions. Her advocacy extends beyond theoretical study, aiming to improve the daily lives of those battling Parkinson’s disease and leukemia. By examining recovery and resilience through the lens of nutrition, Sahasra challenges traditional healthcare perspectives and seeks to empower patients with evidence-based lifestyle strategies. She remains committed to translating medical data into accessible, compassionate care for the community.

• Tanushree Nekenti

  Tanushree Nekenti is a Biology and Biotechnology major with a minor in Bioinformatics at Worcester Polytechnic Institute on the pre-medical track. She has research experience in both cancer biology and neurobiology, focusing on how metabolic and environmental stress influence cellular behavior, growth, and development. Beyond the lab, she serves as a President of the American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology chapter at WPI, is in the process of becoming at EMT, and is the founder of a nonprofit, STEMlove.

• Veeraj Gadda

  Veeraj Gadda is a manager at PayPal, a content creator, and someone who has shown up for a workout every single day for the past 790 days. Along the way, he had the privilege of inspiring a growing community of over 597,000 people, including sharing the stage with the one and only David Goggins in front of 3,000+ attendees. His journey is rooted in a simple belief: consistency is a flywheel—and when applied to fitness, it can drive success across every phase of life, from career to mindset to personal growth. He shares this to remind others that small, disciplined actions—done daily—can change everything.

• Yixuan Li

  Yixuan is a junior from Hopkinton high school and the founder of She Builds The Future, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering girls through education, health, and leadership. Growing up as the oldest sister in her family, she learned early what it meant to be responsible for others. Over time, that experience led her to reflect on how caregiving shapes identity, self-worth, and the ability to choose yourself.