TEDxBASIS Peoria Youth

Speakers

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

• Abhi Virigineni

  Sophmore at Basis Peoria

• Anishka Kumar

  Anishka is an emerging thinker curious about the way which ideals end up shaping society, analyzing how knowledge decision making influence the world around us.

• Chloe Wei

  Chloe is a freshman at BASIS Peoria who was born in Taiwan and grew up navigating the barriers that come with finding your voice in a new place. That experience taught her firsthand that the struggle to connect is universal — it doesn’t matter where you’re from or where you’ve been. Everyone has felt that moment of hesitation. Everyone has let a connection slip. And she believes it’s time we stop letting those moments pass us by.

• Darshi Chokshi

  My name is Darshi Chokshi, and I’m a high school junior who’s personally seen different beauty standards. Experiencing various perspectives on what is defined as “beautiful” caused me to wonder how culture and media influence the way we see ourselves.

• Kavish Parikh

  I’m Kavish, a sophomore at BASIS Peoria with a strong interest in radiation oncology and patient advocacy. My passion for healthcare comes from personal experiences with cancer care, which showed me how important it is not just to treat patients, but to make sure they truly understand what’s happening to them. As a speech and debate medalist, I use public speaking to explore gaps in healthcare communication, especially around health literacy. I also serve as co-president of a community organization that supports medical patients, where I work to make healthcare information more accessible and easier to understand. I aspire to become a radiation oncologist, combining scientific innovation with compassionate, clear communication to improve patient outcomes.

• Nitya Nadella

  Nitya Nadella is an Indian American student at BASIS Peoria High School and aspiring bio technologist dedicated to helping reduce gender inequalities to give every women the voice she deserves, especially in male dominated fields and especially when other factors (like race or socioeconomic status) create a barrier.

• Phuong Nguyen

  Phuong Nguyen is a student, artist, speaker, and community organizer from Arizona. Through speech and debate, visual art, and service in the Vietnamese community, she explores how storytelling can help people feel seen, connected, and alive. Her work focuses on identity, creativity, and the importance of preserving the parts of ourselves that cannot be measured by achievement.

• Rishika Chatterjee

  My name is Rishika Chatterjee, and I attend BASIS Peoria as a freshman. My goal in life is to be a successful lawyer, and raise awareness for the rising issues of animal testing and abuse happening all across the globe. I am honored to be a part of TEDx, and I hope this speech motivates people of every age to start preserving the world we live in before it is too late.

• Sudharshini Ram

  Sudharshini Ram is a student coder and researcher passionate about building technology that is both innovative and socially responsible. Her projects span AI for clinical research, diagnostic software for virology, and privacy tools designed to protect people from AI-driven surveillance. She is drawn to the space where computer science meets real human need, especially in health, ethics, and safety. A strong advocate for more inclusive technology, she cares deeply about helping more girls see that they belong in STEM not just as participants, but as creators of the future.