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Terrific TED-Ed Weekend
TED (Technology, Entertainment, and Design—known by its TED Talks) “believes passionately that ideas have the power to change attitudes, lives, and ultimately, the world.” TED-Ed is TED’s youth and education initiative. TED-Ed’s mission is “to spark and celebrate the ideas of teachers and students around the world.”
In November, five St. Luke’s students that are members of St. Luke’s TED-Ed Club participated in the inspiring, invitation-only TED-Ed weekend held in New York City. Club Advisor Mary Frederick (known as Coach Fred) said, “This amazing event brought students from Ted-Ed clubs around the world. I was incredibly excited and proud that the five St. Luke’s members who applied to attend were selected. Only 120 students were chosen out of more than 600 submissions.”
Laura Mercedes ‘20, Ruth Mercedes ‘20, Nick Rutigliano ‘21, Jerry Rutigliano ‘20, and Danielle Nares ‘21 along with chaperones Coach Fred and Jean Cortes represented St. Luke’s at the Ted-Ed weekend. Once there, students spoke with potential mentors, learned valuable public speaking skills, explored new Ted Talk ideas, and attended hands-on media and animation workshops. They even got to see a performance by the cast of Dear Evan Hansen.
Laura reflected that it was incredible getting to know students from around the world and discuss issues important to them. Nick and Danielle shared that they look forward to applying everything learned to their talks.
A highlight of the weekend was hearing TED Talks from twelve selected students. Coach Fred said, “I was brought to tears by some of the speakers. The theme Show Up and Speak Up included moving messages from being more creative after losing one’s eyesight to domestic violence in Russia to the power of a teacher.”
Coach Fred added, “I look forward to seeing St. Luke’s Ted-Ed club evolve and grow. It’s wonderful to see students get together and share what excites them.” She is hopeful that this TED-Ed will grow at St. Lukes providing students with another platform in which she can make their voices heard.
View the St. Luke’s TED-Ed Weekend photo gallery.
St. Luke’s School is a secular (non-religious), private school in New Canaan, CT for grades 5 through 12 serving over 35 towns in Connecticut and New York. Our exceptional academics and diverse co-educational community foster students’ intellectual and ethical development and prepare them for top colleges. St. Luke’s Center for Leadership builds the commitment to serve and the confidence to lead.
