TEDxDel Mar Youth

Speakers

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

• Amulya Ponakanti

  Amulya Ponakanti is an 11-year-old student who enjoys exploring ideas, expressing herself, and taking on new challenges. She has a strong interest in STEM and creative writing, and at the age of seven, she became a published author with her book “Donut Called Glaze.” Amulya has participated in robotics and science competitions, including FIRST LEGO League, and has received recognition such as the Love of Engineering Award at the 2025 Tech Challenge and first place in the Renewable Energy Science Bowl & Innovation challenge both in Elementary and Middle School divisions. Outside academics, Amulya has been learning Carnatic music since the age of four and has given several stage performances. She also loves basketball and actively plays in interschool competitions, where she is a key team player. She began speech and debate last year as a way to express her ideas and found it to be a strong outlet for sharing her thoughts. She now competes in Lincoln-Douglas debate and earned a Bronze award at a Lincoln-Douglas Forensics Tournament. Through these experiences, Amulya continues to build confidence, critical thinking, and clear communication as she shares her ideas on the TEDx stage.

• Carrie Margaret and Luna Garcia

  Carrie Margaret, a lifelong seeker of life’s deeper questions, has explored over 30 countries and studied how thoughts and culture shape who we become. Her path of personal and spiritual growth led her to a simple truth: we create our world through the stories we tell and the choices we make. Today, she is passionate about helping others reconnect with themselves and live meaningful, authentic lives. Her daughter, Luna Garcia, brings a fresh and insightful perspective. At 17, she is graduating early while earning an associate degree in psychology and is deeply curious about how people think, feel, and grow. Through her love of ideas, books, and exploration, she sees the world as something we actively shape through imagination and intention.

• Erhi Ako

  Erhimeyoma (Yoma) Ako is a Grade 8 student enrolled in Late French Immersion. She serves as Vice President of the Junior Optimist Club, where she actively volunteers as a project lead, coordinating initiatives and donations in support of non-governmental organizations focused primarily on women and children in need. Yoma is a passionate advocate for youth mental health and is committed to promoting awareness, dialogue, and support for young people. Her leadership is grounded in service, empathy, and a strong sense of social responsibility. In addition to her community involvement, Yoma is musically inclined and plays both the baritone and alto saxophones. She has a deep love for animals and is an active member of the Sea Cadets, where she continues to develop discipline, teamwork, and leadership skills. Yoma aspires to pursue a career in law and hopes to one day serve as a Justice of the Supreme Court.

• Krish Suganth

  Krish Suganth is a 13-year-old 7th-grade student at Inglewood Middle School in Seattle. He is an accomplished sitar player with over seven years of training and has performed solo concerts in both the United States and India. Alongside his musical achievements, Krish is an enthusiastic public speaker and an active participant in Model United Nations debates. He is a recipient of the 2023 Presidential Bronze Medal for outstanding community service, and currently serves as the class senator, demonstrating strong leadership and civic engagement.

• Maribelle Ganelis

  Maribelle Ganelis is a twelve-year-old homeschooled student, author, and aspiring scientist who uses storytelling and science to help young audiences understand medical knowledge and health. At age ten, Maribelle published her first fantasy novel, Door to Fairy Forest, and is currently publishing the sequel, Return to Fairy Forest. Through creative fantasy-science fiction, Maribelle writes to inspire creativity while uplifting her readers. She also competes in speech tournaments, winning several national awards, and enjoys science, cooking, crafts, and table tennis in her free time. In her TED talk, Maribelle debunks 3 homeschool myths and shares the reality of this education, explaining how it can benefit students differently.

• Meital Kochinski

  Meital is a passionate advocate and speaker dedicated to fostering understanding and empathy. Drawing from her experiences, she highlights how digital trends and everyday interactions shape identity and community, offering a youth-driven perspective that inspires awareness and action. Her work empowers audiences to recognize challenges, celebrate diversity, and build inclusive spaces where everyone’s voice is valued.

• Rhea Sreedhar

  Rhea is a 10th grader at the Orange County School of the Arts in the Creative Writing Conservatory. She was the youngest of 46 global finalists out of 115,000 participants in the NASA Space Apps Challenge and the winner of the prestigious NASA Earth Sciences Award. Through her 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Rhea has taught coding and app development workshops to over 600 students across 30+ schools. Rhea is passionate about conservation, sustainability, and energy, working at the intersection of environment and computer science. In her free time, Rhea enjoys writing journalism pieces for the LA Times and volunteering at the Orange County Discovery Cube.

• Robert Eyler

  Robert Eyler is a mindfulness teacher, performance coach, and senior business leader who bridges high-performance environments with emotional resilience and well-being. Drawing from his personal journey through addiction and recovery, he focuses on prevention through connection, awareness, and emotional intelligence. His work empowers individuals to build inner strength and navigate challenges with presence and purpose.

• Shterna Srugo

  Shterna is a dedicated yo-yo player whose team and friendships are at the heart of everything she does. She attends monthly yo-yo clubs, always eager to learn new tricks and meet new players. Whether teaching someone their first “Walk the Dog” or breaking down advanced whip combinations, she loves sharing her knowledge and helping others grow. Shterna has competed in three contests, bringing a strong mindset, determination, and discipline to every performance. Driven by bold goals and a desire to make an impact, Shterna aims to grow through competition, content creation, and by spreading the joy of the yo-yo to people of all ages.

• Syna Sharma

  Syna Sharma is a senior at The Harker School and an incoming freshman at Boston University, majoring in neuroscience. Raised in the Bay Area, she's interested in how science can explain the thoughts and pressures that people usually keep hidden. Her work centers around eating disorder research and youth-focused advocacy, with a broader commitment to public health education and eating disorder prevention.