Meet Our 2025 Speakers

Nico Kazlauskas

Weaving Webs of Influence

Nico is a Sophomore, Visual Art Education major from Naperville, IL. Nico wanted to become involved with TEDx as he believes sharing ideas with others is an important part of life that allows people to connect.

Class of 2027

Watch Their Talk Here

Megan Barta

From Piano to Prison: Mastering Precense

Megan is a Senior Psychology major from northern California. Megan is excited to share about how her time at Hope has been one long lesson in presence; how to be involved but not overcommitted, learning and taking advantage of the opportunities.

Class of 2025

Watch Their Talk Here

Macy Granville

Are Today's Young Athletes Really Winning?

Macy is a Sophomore, Secondary English Education major from Sugar Land, TX. She attended the event last year and felt inspired to talk about something that’s very real for her and her family in hopes.

Class of 2027

Watch Their Talk Here

Griffin Bloch

Class of 2026

Flipping the Narrative on Learning Disabilities

Griffin is a Junior from Clinton Township, Michigan studying political science. He wants to share his story to the world and to show that someone with a learning disability can be successful. The system of education CAN change to fit students with learning disabilities learning styles.

Watch Their Talk Here

Confiance Mbuyu

Class of 2025

The Mirror in the Classroom:

Why Black Male Teachers Matter

Confiance is a Senior from Holland, MI studying Secondary Education and Leadership. Inspiried by his favorite TED Talk, he was inspired his to advocate for himself, his community and those who are still finding their voice.

Watch Their Talk Here

Ally Guffey

Class of 2026

Rehumanizing the Person Behind the Sign

Ally is a Junior studying Psychology from Zeeland, MI. Her favorite thing about Hope is that it’s the perfect size to connect and get to know people well. She is excited to use this platform to inspire others to truly see their neighbors with love.

Watch Their Talk Here

Emilia Portelli

Class of 2026

Why Fitting in is a Recipe for Failure

Emilia is a Sophomore Global Studies major from Las Vegas, NV. She believes TEDxHopeCollege provides an empowering platform to share ideas that truly matter. She wants to connect with a larger audience while still making an impact within her local Hope community.

Watch Their Talk Here

Danya Ortiz

Class of 2027

The Other Side of the American Dream

Danya is a Sophomore Communication major from Holland, MI. She is passionate about her talk because she has always said she wanted to be the voice her parents never had, and this was a great opportunity to finally share their story.

Watch Their Talk Here

Ashley Lauraine

Class of 2025

Education Needs More Glue and Less Google

Ashley is a Senior studying Biology from Holland, MI. She is a very passionate person, with a strong drive to share her ideas. One of her greatest passions is education, and she believes that TEDx is a great platform to share her experiences and start meaningful conversations.

Watch Their Talk Here