Theme: Building a Better World

In TEDxParklandHighSchool, we will be highlighting youth speakers with a passion for inspiring societal change, whether that be through innovation, community service, or spreading awareness. A special thank you goes out to the wonderful administration at the Parkland School District for allowing us to host at Springhouse Middle School! Please contact rishrohatgi@gmail.com with any inquiries.

Springhouse Middle School
1200 Springhouse Rd
Allentown, Pennsylvania, 18104
United States

Dora Ozcan

Dora is currently a freshman in high school. She is involved in the Parkland Jazz Band as a pianist and takes part in the Political Science Club along with several other clubs. Outside of school, she participates in numerous piano competitions and hopes to spread motivational and positive thinking and mindset locally, and maybe even globally, through the TEDx event.

Eshaan Patel

Eshaan is currently a sophomore at Parkland High School and a passionate public speaker who competes on the Parkland High School Debate Team among other activities. Eshaan is academically driven and strives to be the best version of himself in both the classroom and community. Eshaan enjoys volunteering in his community during his free time, especially mentoring and teaching younger children.

Grant Pinsley

Grant is currently a sophomore at Parkland High School, academically strong with his participation in the Debate, Political Science, and Law clubs. He also has an affinity to the arts and is a part of the Parkland Chorale and Parkland Honors Orchestra groups. Outside of school, he particularly enjoys political activism and volunteer work.

Reva Gandhi

Reva Gandhi is currently a junior at Parkland High School, working at the crossroads of STEM and public policy. Her passions lie in student advocacy and empowerment, working with the Pennsylvania State Board of Education and various other student organizations to elevate the unique perspective of students. An optimist at heart, she hopes to bring diversity, holistic thinking, and sustainability to not only educational institutions, but to society at large.

Rishika Rohatgi

Rishika Rohatgi is a senior at Parkland High School who is extremely involved in student activism, whether it be through interning with a US Congresswoman or serving as a representative on the Parkland Community Advisory Council. She is passionate about workers rights, and aims to use her voice to uplift those typically marginalized. Aligning with these interests, she plans to pursue a career in Organizational Management, emphasizing ethical practice and effective leadership.

Samith Rohatgi

Samith is a freshman at Parkland High School who enjoys playing the cello in the Parkland Honors Orchestra and competing in Science Olympiad. Also interested in space history, he placed 4th in the nation during the National History Day Competition with a project on the Deep Space Network. He believes his expertise in conflict resolution comes from being a younger sibling for 14 years and wants to help the world to resolve their conflicts in peaceful and meaningful ways.

Sanika Kothari

Sanika Kothari is a junior at Parkland High School, creating her impact on the community through the advocacy of financial literacy. A significant crisis worldwide, she is working to directly impact students to understand its importance and begin educating themselves on this subject, such as through her own student-powered initiative known as Money Matters. Through her work, she aims to build awareness, inspire positive change, and develop a proactive mindset in society as a whole.

Siddhant Khandelwaal

Siddhant Khandelwal is currently a junior at Parkland High School whose goal is to expose the caveats of social media and misinformation through his interest in technology. Siddhant has given several speeches on hyper partisanship and how its elimination can bridge our social, political, and digital divides. Passionate about uplifting a variety of perspectives, Siddhant hosts his own radio show called Teen Connect on NPR’s WDIY to give the teen angle on various issues.

Vishruth Hanumaihgari

Vishruth Hanumaihgari is a junior at Parkland High School. Throughout his career, he has developed a strong interest in medicine and public speaking through his involvement in the debate team and various STEM initiatives, ranging from national science competitions to community projects, including his own student organization, Youth Against Cancer. He is dedicated to emboldening youth across the world by encouraging them to use their voices to initiate positive change in their communities, and he hopes his message will give them the confidence they need to, one day, share their own experiences with social anxiety.