Theme: Rise Above the Noise

TEDxVail Youth first came to our valley in 2010 as an independently organized TEDx event with the theme “Revolution.” Since then, it has served as a platform for passionate voices in our community—giving speakers the space to share ideas and inspire change.

This year, we’re proud to present TEDxVail Youth 2025 with the theme “Rise Above the Noise.” In a world filled with distractions, differing opinions, and challenges that demand our attention, this theme highlights the power of unity and resilience. It’s about finding clarity and making a difference together as a community.

You'll hear from an incredible lineup of speakers who will challenge the way we think, live, and interact with the world. Their stories reflect the heart of our theme and encourage all of us to embrace new perspectives. Our hope is that each of you connects with something you hear today—that you walk away ready to Rise Above the Noise in your own way.

Session 1: Amplifying Your Impact: Using Your Voice for Change
We have a talk that explores the concept of leadership, specifically through the lens of female leaders. Carys will be taking the stage to share her powerful insights. Her talk is titled 'The Trillion Dollar Blindspot,' where she’ll reveal the economic power and potential of women in leadership, and why this has been overlooked for far too long. Welcome Carys Highum!"

Next, we dive into a topic that is incredibly important in today’s world: sustainability in fashion. Asher will explore how we can take our clothing choices to the next level in order to protect our planet. His talk is titled 'From Climate to Closet to Couture.'

Our next speaker, Tsveti, will share an inspiring talk on overcoming fear, using the backdrop of the Berlin Wall and freedom as a foundation. Her talk is titled 'Fear is a Great Teacher.' Get ready to be inspired by her insights on anxiety and how we can break through the Berlin Walls in our own lives.

"We now have the three Kosasih Sisters, who will be joining us virtually to speak about a new frontier in the world of food science. Their talk is titled 'What Does It Take for Real Change to Happen?' and it will focus on a protein-based sweetener that is revolutionizing the way we think about food.

Our final speaker for this first session is Benj Gershman, who will be tackling a crucial topic around mental fitness. His talk, 'Mental Resilience is a New Seatbelt,' will offer us a deep dive into how mental resilience can be our tool for navigating life’s challenges.

That wraps up the first session, and wow, what a journey it’s been so far! From leadership to sustainability, overcoming fear, and resilience — there’s so much to reflect on already. But we’re just getting started. Let’s dive into our second session, where we have more incredible speakers lined up.

Session 2: Breaking Through the Static
Before beginning our second session, we would like to give a big thank you to all of our partners, our wonderful team, and our guides - which include Ms. Sage, Kat Haber, and Kristen Lee. This event would not be possible without these guides.

Our next speaker, Annie, will be talking about something that is shaping our future at this very moment: Artificial Intelligence. Her talk is titled 'AI is Shaping the Future, But Who’s Shaping AI?' Annie will explore the ethical considerations behind AI, and the responsibility we all have in shaping its future.

Our first speaker in this session is Eva, who will take us on a journey into the concept of 'othering' and why so many of us have been silently choking on societal expectations. Her talk is titled 'Why We Were All Silently Choking.' Eva will challenge us to think critically about how we interact with the world and each other.

Now, we have Brianna, who will be diving into the conversation around race, specifically focusing on how we can invite white folks into meaningful dialogue about race. Her talk is titled 'Calling in White Folks to Talk About Race.' Brianna’s talk promises to be an eye-opening exploration of how we can bridge the gap in conversations about race.

Up next is Espen, who will be speaking about the vital art of hearing others. In a world where communication is key, his talk is titled 'The Struggle of Hearing.' He’ll help us explore what it truly means to listen, and how we can better connect with those around us.

Battle Mountain High School
151 Miller Ranch Road
Edwards, Colorado, 81632
United States

Annie Zountsa

Greek Student and Ethical AI Social Entrepreneur

Annie is an innovator from Thessaloniki, Greece, passionate about impact-driven technology. She leads AI Ambassadors, an initiative that empowers students to understand and engage with AI. She is dedicated to making the technology more understandable and accessible. Annie believes that youth should be at the forefront of AI innovation, encouraging them to not only understand AI but also learn to advocate for its ethical development and responsible use.

Asher Hustad

Student Sustainability Fashion Designer

Asher is a fashion designer and fine artist, born in China, raised in Colorado. Art has always been a central part of his life. With his label, NOPE wear, He has designed shoes, hats, jackets, pants showcased on Project Funway. His personal journey from fast fashion to up-cycling clothes to help the environment and change the industry redeems the dream of dressing fashionably free from fast fashion.

Benj Gershman

Mental Fitness Podcaster and OAR bass guitarist

Benj is a multi-decade performing musician (Original Member of O.A.R.), podcast host (What Could Be Bad), and activist dedicated to promoting healthier living through mental well-being, resilience, and creativity. My talk focuses on preventative tools and actions we can all access that will set us up for any potentially challenging mental health issues we may face.

Brianna Johnson

Equality Advocate

Brianna Johnson was born and raised in Colorado and currently calls the Bay Area home. Her work centers on building equitable communities through climate solutions. Her passion is calling in white folks to engage in conversations about race so that they actively participate in deconstructing systems of oppression. Her free time is spent managing a yoga nonprofit and adventuring with her spouse and pup. Brianna is an alumna of BMHS (class of 2010).

Carys Highum

Student Female Leader and Advocate

Carys is a sophomore at Battle Mountain High School, passionate about business, Model UN, Speech and Debate, and leadership. Within these activities, She has, since she was 13 years old, experienced misogyny and discrimination purely based on my gender, and that made me realize how drastic the societal expectations of women have become especially when it affects such young girls.

Espen Plotkin

Student

Espen P. Plotkin was born in Denver Colorado and is currently a freshman attending Vail Mountain School. Espen has been active in his school's Model UN team, having placed in multiple conferences. Finding passion in public speaking, he was asked to speak at both the 8th and 12th grade graduations last year having been awarded the Public Speaking award at his school. He also enjoys creative writing and media production. During his academic career, he won the Colorado State Science Fair in Micro Biology in 2024. Espen firmly believes it is imperative for people to hear, understand, and respect opposing views, especially given the division currently found in our nation.

Eva Isaacs

eisaacs@vchsweb.org

A current junior at Vail Christian High School, Eva Isaacs is deeply passionate about public speaking, participating in activities like Speech and Debate and Student Council. She is an avid mountain biker and has a deep passion for women’s health. After having witnessed the consequences of an ever-dividing society firsthand, she has realized the importance of acknowledging nuances within an argument to build balanced, informed perspectives with opportunities for collaborative compromise.

Gabriella Gallegos

Student Journalist

A current senior at Battle Mountain Highschool, Gabriella Gallegos is an avid enjoyer of public speaking having experience with the skill from Speech & Debate, Theater, and her school’s news channel: Husky Happenings. After high school, she hopes to pursue public speaking further and become a journalism major, and eventually a news reporter. She believes that sharing your voice is one of if not the most important things that one can do in their lifetime. In her community, she works with EFEC and Behavioral Education partners. As a youth advisor, and does youth violence prevention work with Mountain Youth. Among other things, Gabby loves spending time with her friends, writing, exploring the outdoors, filming with High Five Access Media, and learning about niche topics.

Tsveti Fuentes

Teacher

"Fluent in English, Spanish and Bulgarian, Tsveti has tremendous love and appreciation for all cultures and languages. She is an advocate for inclusion as an adult participant in the ECSD Youth Equity Stewardship initiative. She is passionate about elevating wellness, fulfillment and achievement through optimal alignment of the heart, gut intuition, mind and soul. Tsveti has presented on multiple occasions regarding social emotional topics in Spanish for Aprendiendo Juntos, a community learning platform. She also co-created the Pausa Semanal, a Social Emotional Learning resource for schools and communities by crafting videos in Spanish on topics like self awareness, self-management,social awareness, relationship skills and responsible decision-making. Tsveti is a Spanish teacher, wellness advocate, consultant and career coach. Things that bring her joy include nature, family time, hiking, yoga, meditation, and exploring the world! "

Vanessa, Jesselyn, Vinnycia Kosasih

Indonesian Student Social Entrepreneurs

We are three sisters and students sharing the same passion for entrepreneurship and problem-solving. We love taking real-world challenges and turning them into innovative solutions. Our journey with sweet protein started last year when we saw the issues with today’s alternative proteins and health concerns. Since then, we have gained a lot of recognition and positive feedback from big companies and institutions, which has inspired us to take this idea even further.