TEDxACU is involving young people this year through student speakers and a youth event.
The student speaker finalists are Alex Carstens, Ben Cobb and Chelsea Johnson. Cobb will speak about food and nutrition, Carstens will speak about millennials and the stories that shape their identity and Johnson, who’s message is titled “The Truth,” will discuss facing the truth about yourself and your past. Dr. Lauren Lemley, the TEDxACU director, said judges will choose one or two of these finalists to speak at the event in February.
Bailey Cate, a senior communications major from Freemont, Nebraska, and intern for TEDxACU, said students submitted videos online by Oct. 23.
“We’re looking for someone who has created an idea worth thinking about,” Cate said.
The finalists will present their talks at 7 p.m. Nov. 5 at in the Onstead Packer Biblical Studies Building Room 120. Students and faculty are welcome to come and listen to the presentations. The TEDxACU student interns and several communications faculty will judge the speakers on their ideas, thoughtfulness and creativity.
TED is an international non-profit that started in the 1980s. TED stands for technology, entertainment and design. TED has national and international events, but any event titled TEDx is a locally organized event. Local events are held the most by cities, universities and schools. TED has education initiatives, international events and translations of talks into different languages.
TEDxACU student ambassadors were also chosen this week. Last year there were 10-12 student ambassadors. This role includes tasks such as advertising, selling merchandise and helping with check-in.
In addition to the event in February, ACU is also hosting a TEDxYouth event. The event, which will take place on November 14, will allow middle and high school students to watch the international TEDxYouth event broadcast live from New York.
The theme of this year’s event is “Made in the Future” and will focus on what life will be like in the year 2035. ACU student interns and student ambassadors will help with activities between presentations.
Lemley said this is an opportunity for ACU to reach out to the community.
“It’s important to spread the TED movement into the community,” Lemley said. “It’s making another step so that they are thinking about what’s out there.”
