Social Media/Publicity

Lauren is a junior in the International Baccalaureate track at International High School in San Francisco. She’s grown her passion for traveling and cultural immersion over the years and aspires to become an international business development manager. She has always enjoyed watching TEDx talks and was interested in joining the annual school organized talks. This is her first year organizing TEDxYouth@FAIHS and she hopes to continue through her senior year as well.

Mercer Kriese

Head Designer and Speaker Manager

Mercer Kriese is a  senior pursuing the International Baccalaureate at International High School in San Francisco. She is passionate about design technology, biology and genetics, as well as political activism, which is what sparked her interest in TEDx. This is her second year on the TEDx team and she is excited to bring her experience with design to the event. 

Kate Leidlein is a senior working towards earning her International Baccalaureate at International High School in San Francisco. This is her first year working on the TEDx event. She is passionate about volleyball, soccer both outside and inside of school. She also enjoys volunteering at school events such as helping out at the open houses, as well as non profits such as working at food banks.

Kate Leidlein

Social Media and Publicity

Sofia Zanfagna

Organizer

Sofia Zanfagna is a junior at International High School and takes the International Baccalaureate. This is her first year helping in organizing a TEDx event. She is passionate about soccer and volunteering in the communities around her.

Carter Fay is a 12th grader in the International Baccalaureate program at International High School in San Francisco. This is Carter’s second year on the TEDx leadership team. She chose to participate for a second time because she wants to do whatever she can to help members of this new generation use their voices early and often, and speak their mind on what they’re passionate about, in order to make an impact on their community. At school, Carter is a co-leader of the Design Technology Club, she is a peer counselor and participates in the theater program.

Speaker Manager

Carter Fay

Josh Dewald

Speaker Manager

Joshua DeWald is an 11th grade student taking the International Baccalaureate program at International High School. This is his first year organizing TEDxYouth@FAIHS and will continue in Senior year.  He is passionate about history, English, film, and social justice. He believes TEDx is vital to help contribute ideas and spark conversations, and hopes that through working on this project he can create a positive impact in his community. 

Carter Fay is an 11th grader in the International Baccalaureate program at International High School in San Francisco. Outside of school, she enjoys doing ballet at the The Presidio Dance Theatre and chorus at Peninsula Girls Chorus. This is her second year involved in a TEDx event and she is excited to be a speaker manager because she loves reading and writing. She chose to do TEDx youth because she thinks it is important that this younger generation uses their voices early and often, for whatever it is they’re passionate about, in order to make an impact on their community. Overall she is passionate about several of her classes, but specifically hopes to pursue design in college.

Cami Smith-Dahl

Speaker Manager

Adriana Villarina

Adriana Villarina is a 11th grader at International High School. She enjoys filming, painting and is passionate about the study of the biological science as well as english literature. In addition to that, she enjoys traveling around the world taking pictures of different things. In the past she has spoken at a TEDx event on the topic of Dreams and the importance of enduring one.

Publicity and  Media

Faculty Advisor

Susanne Salhab

Susanne Alissa Salhab teaches English at French American International School. Unsurprisingly, her main interests are reading, language and gender, and travel. Her interest in diversity in literature has driven her to include diverse readings into her curriculum. She believes that TED talks have the ability to spark change in both the global community and local communities. 

Madeleine Curran 

Support

Madeleine Curran is a Freshman in the french track at International High School. She is interested in English and Math, but also enjoys dancing, playing the violin, and participating in theatre. This is her first year participating in TedX, and she is very excited to be able to hear her fellow youth speak about topics they are passionate about! She believes that it is crucial for the youth to speak out, as many current issues will directly impact their generation.

Kennedy Academia is a 9th grader at International High School. She is interested in biology but is most passionate about kung fu and art. This is her first year being a part of a TEDx event. She wanted to join the TEDx Youth Group at International because she wants to support youth who desire to speak about what they are passionate about and the things they're interested in. 

Kennedy Academia

Support