TEDxRiverHillHS
DARE TO THINK DIFFERENT
The Speakers
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FEATURED SPEAKERS
Dr. Denise Boston
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Equity & Restorative Practices Manager
Howard County, MD
What Advice Would I Give My 15-Year-Old Self?
Dr. Denise Boston is the Equity and Restorative Practices Manager in Howard County Government’s Office of Human Rights and Equity. Dr. Boston previously served as the Dean of Diversity and Inclusion at the California Institute of Integral Studies and full professor in CIIS’s MA Counseling and Expressive Arts Therapy Programs.
She has a demonstrated history of higher ed administration, international scholarship, and equity-centered leadership in the public and private sector. Dr. Boston is a graduate of Howard High School and is most proud of her community-based research and restorative practice work in San Francisco, Washington, DC, Virginia, and now in Howard County.
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Gabrielle Demuren
Exploring the Extraordinary
Gabrielle Demuren is an outstanding high school student who exemplifies the qualities of a dedicated leader and community servant. Her extensive involvement in various organizations and initiatives showcases her commitment to making a positive impact on her community.
She is most proud of her founding of Black History Fest, an annual event aimed at bringing together a diverse range of remarkable speakers, performers and black owned business vendors to commemorate, black history and showcase excellence.
She plans on attending Harvard College in the Fall of 2024 where she will be majoring in
government, furthering her interest in politics, international relations and broadcast journalism.
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Senior @ River Hill High School
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Junior @ Mt. Hebron High School
Felix Baum
Being The Future: How We Can Thrive
Felix Baum is a Junior at Mt. Hebron High School and the President of the Environmental Activists Club. He has been involved in legislative advocacy since 2017, and has successfully lobbied for both local and state environmental legislation. Currently, Felix is organizing efforts to bring the Mt. Hebron campus up to environmental standards set in several Howard County Watershed Report Cards.
Felix is passionate about public speaking, environmental activism, computer science, and writing.
Daniel Ohadi
The Impact of AI on Humanity
Daniel Ohadi is passionate about sports, technology, and making a positive impact on the world. With a keen interest in soccer and an avid follower of the latest trends in the automotive and smart tech industries, Daniel is always eager to learn and stay up-to-date on the latest innovations.
His research interests are diverse, but his latest interests have been focused around the impact of video games on adolescents. He is fascinated by the effects of video games on mental, physical, and emotional states, as well as academic performance and overall productivity.
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Junior @ River Hill High School
Matthew Sotomey
Dare to Be Different: Elon Musk
Matthew Sotomey is currently a sophomore at River Hill High School and a speaker at the 2024 TEDxRiverHillHS event. His topic, Dare to Be Different: Elon Musk, aims to use the professional life of Elon Musk as an example to motivate listeners to dare to be different in their lives.
In his free time, you can find him spending time with family and friends, watching car reviews on YouTube or reading the latest news in national and international political affairs.
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Sophomore @ River Hill High School
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Senior @ Oakland Mills High School
Rohan Warrier
Parading towards Progress: Fixing Systems with Community
Rohan Warrier is a steadfast community advocate known by Oakland Mills and beyond for his public speaking and involvement in local policy.
He has worked extensively to make sure that the perception of the Oakland Mills Community is true and reflective of their values.
Now, he is a member of the inaugural Howard County Youth Engagement Leadership workgroup where he continues to fight for his peers.
Ananya Sharma
Apocalypse Explained
Ananya Sharma is a junior at River Hill High School. She is passionate about international relations, human rights advocacy, the end of times, and how they all work in accordance with each other. In her free time, she loves listening to classic rock and Bollywood, scrapbooking, and writing.
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Junior @ River Hill High School
The Venue
River Hill High School
12101 Clarksville Pike, Clarksville, MD 21029
River Hill High School is a public high school in Clarksville, Maryland, United States. It is part of the Howard County public schools system.
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