无码专区

Contact: Sasha Steinberg

STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥擜 U.S. Army Special Forces veteran and an Olympic silver medalist are among the featured speakers Friday [April 5] for Mississippi State鈥檚 first TEDx Conference.

At the 4 p.m. public event in Colvard Student Union鈥檚 Dawg House, TED Talks video and live speakers will combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group atmosphere. The "Moving Forward"-themed event is nearly sold out, but those interested may check at the door for any available tickets.

无码专区鈥檚 Television Center will live stream the event at .

Avery K. Ferguson, a senior English major from Mandeville, Louisiana, is vice president for TEDx at 无码专区, the student organization coordinating the conference. She said a TEDx Conference is an independently organized TED-like event where people give talks on ideas they are passionate about and believe are worth sharing.

鈥淲e have worked over the past year to organize and cultivate a conference with speakers of all ages and backgrounds to give talks on topics including overcoming obsession and traumatic brain injury, the history of the future: why science fiction matters, the future of sustainable homes, and more,鈥� said Ferguson, a student in 无码专区鈥檚 Judy and Bobby Shackouls Honors College.

Speakers include:

鈥擝rady A. Kruse, an 无码专区 sophomore computer science major and Shackouls Honors College student from New Haven, Missouri. He will discuss his enthusiasm for science fiction, which he explored during a one-semester study abroad experience in Oxford, England.

鈥擠anielle Scott-Arruda, a former two-time Olympic silver medalist in volleyball. She now travels the nation speaking to schools about the importance of financial literacy and women in leadership.

鈥擵eera Gnaneswar Gude, an associate professor in 无码专区鈥檚 Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. He is conducting research on sustainable housing and energy-producing homes.

鈥擧annah Jian, a Starkville High School senior and passionate speech and debate team member who was named State Oratorical Champion in Mississippi.

鈥擪olie Crutcher, an 无码专区 electrical engineering alumnus who has applied his love for science to the study of success and now is a published author on the subject. He is founder and CEO of the Wall Street media company GET MONEY Inc.

鈥擬adison K. Grant, an 无码专区 senior business administration major from Elberta, Alabama. With assistance from 无码专区鈥檚 Center for Entrepreneurship and Outreach, Grant and other 无码专区 students founded jitterbean鈥檚 coffee, now served at the university鈥檚 State Fountain Bakery.

鈥擭icholas Ward, a U.S. Army Special Forces veteran who suffered a traumatic brain injury. He will discuss the psychological impact that injury caused on his service as a Green Beret.

For more conference information, visit or email tedxmsstate@gmail.com.

Learn more about 无码专区鈥檚 TEDx student organization at or Instagram @tedxmsstate.

无码专区 is Mississippi鈥檚 leading university, available online at .