TEDxBolingbrook Youth

Speakers

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

• Aarya Sobti

  Aarya has always been curious about how things work and even more passionate about explaining complex ideas in ways that truly connect with others. What began as creating educational videos for fun evolved into Curion, a nonprofit initiative through which she built a community of more than 19,000 learners and produced nearly 45 educational videos within a few months. Her TEDx talk is inspired by her computational research on CRISPR and ALS, which earned a Gold Award at the Illinois Junior Academy of Science (IJAS) State Expo, and explores how the ancient evolutionary battle between bacteria and viruses may help shape the future of treatments for neurodegenerative diseases.

• Akanksha Narayan

  Akanksha Narayan is a sophomore at Neuqua Valley High School with a passion for storytelling, public speaking, and exploring ideas that connect personal experiences to broader life lessons. After an unexpected sports injury forced her to step away from competition, she began reflecting on what it truly means to be “benched.” Through her TEDx talk, Akanksha examines how setbacks, rejection, and periods of pause can become opportunities for growth, resilience, and self-discovery. Her talk challenges audiences to rethink success, not as constant forward motion, but as the ability to find purpose even when life puts us on the sidelines.

• Ishaanvi Vemula

  Ishaanvi Vemula is a junior at Metea Valley High School passionate about using technology to address real-world challenges. She developed InsureLit, an inclusive mobile app that simplifies complex health insurance policies, earning recognition in the 2025 Congressional App Challenge. Ishaanvi is also actively involved in Model United Nations, VEX Robotics, and Girls Who Code. In her TEDx Youth talk, she explores why understanding insurance is essential today for both insured and uninsured individuals, and how clearer systems can help people make informed decisions about their health.

• Rhea Chacko

  Rhea Chacko is a junior at Waubonsie Valley High School with a deep passion for education and youth empowerment. Her experience on the school’s Speech Team taught her the importance of speaking up about meaningful topics and using her voice to advocate for change. Inspired by this, she leads public speaking workshops for young children at the Alive Center, helping them build confidence and learn to express themselves. Through her own experiences navigating high school, Rhea noticed how uneven access to guidance can shape a student’s confidence and sense of belonging. In her TEDx talk, she explores what education could look like if guidance were treated as a right rather than a privilege, urging communities to create structured systems where no student has to navigate adolescence alone.

• Saina Nagar

  Saina Nagar is a junior at Neuqua Valley High School with a strong passion for healthcare and improving community well-being. Through her volunteering in local hospitals and nursing homes, as well as her exploration of cancer and gastrointestinal research, she is dedicated to understanding and addressing real-world health challenges. She is also an active member of her school’s Speech Team and developed a Medical Emergency Magnet, a resource designed to guide individuals through common emergency scenarios. Drawing from her own experiences with perfectionism and stress, her TEDx talk examines how the pursuit of perfection can shape both mental and physical well-being and encourages a healthier approach to success.