Meet the Speakers

Ashkon Saeidi

Ashkon is a high school student, Science Olympiad competitor, and the founder of a health and lifestyle club at his school. He is passionate about helping people, especially teens, understand how diet and daily habits can significantly impact overall health. This passion stems from his personal journey with chronic acne. In his TEDx talk, Ashkon shares the slow but powerful transformation he experienced when he moved away from quick fixes and began making real, lasting changes. His goal is to empower others to take control of their health from the inside out.
Coach: Jim Taylor

Betty Chen

Betty is dedicated to empowering young adolescents through competitive speaking. A passionate competitor in speech and debate since the third grade, she believes that effective communication cultivates confidence, critical thinking, and resilience in youth. Betty has witnessed firsthand how participation in competitive speaking fosters personal success. In her TED talk, she will share the transformative impact of investing in competitive speaking for adolescents’ lives.

Christiana Garcia

Christiana, a 17-year-old rising senior. Diagnosed with six learning differences
starting at age three, I’ve been homeschooled since kindergarten. My unique educational journey
inspired my passion for advocating for students with learning differences, and I’ve had the
privilege of speaking at special needs teacher conferences.
You can usually find me stepping into the role of an attorney in mock trials or sharing my love
for martial arts by teaching karate to kids. My motto is '¡Sí se puede!' ('Yes, you can!') because I
believe in the power of perseverance and positivity.
Coach: Jackie Graybill

Jennifer Saunders

Jennifer Saunders Nasheed, M.B.A. is an awarding winning leader, professional speaker, speaker coach, serial entrepreneur and CEO of Comprehensive Behavioral Health, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit which has assisted women, women with children and the community for twenty years. Advocating for mental, physical and emotional health, especially healthy self esteem, the growing groups of people who Jennifer has helped now includes youth as a result of her wildly popular self-esteem workshops for youths.
In her "spare time", Jennifer is the organizer of TEDx Taft Avenue where she has coached more than thirty five TEDx speakers to craft and deliver ideas worth spreading from the iconic red circle rug.
Jennifer is committed to making a difference and lives the philosophy that “You can’t help someone else reach the mountain top without getting closer to the top yourself.” Judging by her incredible success and longevity, it would appear that Jennifer has summited many mountains together with those she helps!

Riya Parikh

Riya is a passionate young leader, speaker, and founder of the nonprofit 20 Pencils, which provides essential school supplies to students in need. At just 10 years old, she has already built a reputation for turning big ideas into action and using her voice to spark change in her community and beyond.
She is a three-time spelling bee champion, a dedicated pianist with six years of training, and an experienced stage performer. Riya also excels in academics, especially in math, and balances her love for learning with a talent for organization, public speaking, and the arts. Whether she’s performing, presenting, or problem-solving, Riya brings confidence, curiosity, and a strong sense of purpose to everything she does.
Coach: Gary Penn

Sensei Ron Thomas

Ron is a renowned actor best known for his iconic role as Bobby Brown in The Karate Kid and the globally popular Netflix series Cobra Kai. Beyond Hollywood, he is a sought-after speaker, mindset expert, and bestselling author. A former world martial arts champion and U.S. Sport Ju-Jitsu Team trainer, Sensei Ron blends wisdom from the dojo with real-world strategies for success. His latest book, Hidden Life Lessons of Mr. Miyagi: An Unbeatable Guide to Happiness, Success, and Mastery Beyond the Dojo, launched worldwide in December, offering a blueprint for life mastery.
Coach: Chris Nielson

Saura Charlu

Saura is a wiser than age 11yo, who prides herself on her passion for the arts. Coming from a multigenerational bloodline of music, dance, singing and creativity, she feels blessed for the opportunities she has had on and off the stage. With eight years of experience as a competitive dancer, Saura has earned top scholarships in jazz competitions, showcasing her dedication for the art. She is also a nationally competitive speech and debate participant, with three years of experience and notable national placements in persuasive and impromptu styles. Outside of her academic and performance achievements, Saura enjoys singing and playing the piano, reading legal thrillers, and playing board games. Saura believes that the youth have a voice that matters and that they shouldn't be afraid to use it to make change!
Coach: Iain Lampert

Siddhi Tandon

Siddhi is a student at the Lakeside School in Seattle, passionate about exploring the worlds of business and finance. She is a memeber of the Young Inverstors Society, and has participated in many trading springs, such as the Stevens Trading Day. She enjoys playing the clarinet in her local youth symphony and school orchestra, and is a passionate swimmer. Her friends would desrcirbe her as energetic, outgoing, and talkative. She believes that financial literacy is a crucial skill for all students, and is eager to bring her ideas to the Tedx stage.
Coach: Dan Knauss