TEDxSaintFrancisHS

Speakers

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

• Aadya Shivan Kumar

  Student

  Aadya Shivan Kumar is a sophomore at Saint Francis High School. Outside of TEDx, she is involved in Varsity Field Hockey, Psychology Club, and Newspaper. Aadya also does multiple styles of vocal music, including Western and Carnatic. She loves to compete in singing competitions, read, and watch sports and documentaries.

• Akhil Ranjeet

  Student

  Akhil Ranjeet is a sophomore at Saint Francis High School. Outside of TEDx, he enjoys FMSA, Model United Nations, and Mock Trial. Akhil and his peers have been working together on a local nonprofit for the past three years to promote STEM education and make it more accessible. Outside of school, Akhil enjoys reading, watching Netflix, and playing tennis.

• Avani Thakur

  Student

  Avani Thakur is a junior at Saint Francis High School, where she leads Service Club and SWENext, combining empathy with systems thinking to create meaningful change. Outside of school, she winds down in the kitchen baking for her nonprofit bakery, Sweet Sensations. Her most recent endeavor is BrightBites Lab, a STEM education startup that has evolved into a global service initiative, providing hands-on STEM kits to over 350 students across the U.S., Africa, and India. Through her interdisciplinary work, Avani continues to explore how innovation and service can work hand in hand.

• Avery Lee

  Student

  Avery Lee is a senior at Saint Francis High School. Outside of TEDx, she is interested in filmmaking, writing poetry, Liturgy Band, and color guard. She loves watching movies and going to modern art museums. In the future, she plans to study film and television and philosophy. Avery wants to open the discussion of how society rates movies and how we share opinions with each other. She hopes to inspire a more open discussion that leads to a culture that is more understanding. Avery wants to be a screenwriter and producer to help shed light on unique ideas and communities.

• Lauren Williams

  Student

  Lauren Williams is a junior at Saint Francis High School. Outside of TEDx, she is involved in a variety of school related extracurriculars — including Affinity Council, BSU, Thrive mentorship, Hospitality Internship, Moreau Board, Next Level Coaching, Girls Varsity Rugby, and Junior Student Council. Outside of school, she loves to make ceramic work, paint, and spend time with her family. Lauren is passionate about social justice and analyzing human behavior.

• Nathan Pancholi

  Student

  Nathan Pancholi is a sophomore at Saint Francis High School. He is passionate about technology and leadership. As a Key Club officer he has run an independent meal drive for the homeless. He enjoys making videos on nuclear energy, participating in Model UN, and reading philosophy.

• Steven Petelo

  Educator

  Dr. Steven Petelo is an educator at Saint Francis High School, where he teaches Ethnic Studies, AP African American Studies, serves as department chair, and coaches freshman football. A first-generation Tongan American and first-generation college graduate, his work is grounded in community, identity, and educational opportunity. Before Saint Francis, Steven taught at San Francisco State University and the College of San Mateo, where he supported incarcerated youth through Project Change and mentored Pacific Islander American students in the Mana Program. With more than 15 years of experience in juvenile probation, his work centers on supporting justice system-impacted students and advancing education as a pathway to belonging, stability, and long-term success.