2024 Speakers

Get to know those on the stage.

Maria Elena Mejia Contreras ‘24

Emcee

Maria Elena, a senior at York School, is a singer, actor, dancer who is currently a company member of The Western Stage and performs in other local theaters. Some of the productions she has recently been a part of are Alice by Heart (Alice), Imaginary (Alice), Tuck Everlasting (Winnie Foster), and more. At York School she has acted in Frozen (Princess Anna), Alice by Heart (Duchess), and Snoopy (Woodstock) She was part of SpectorDance’s youth company and danced there for over 12 years. In addition to MCing this year's TEDx event, Maria Elena was also a speaker in 2023 TEDxYorkSchool, speaking on her discovery of the broad importance of the arts.

Marie-Claire Davenport ‘24

Student Speaker

Marie-Claire Davenport is someone who dedicates time and energy to working hard and understanding the world around her. A passionate at heart, Marie-Claire feels strongly about subjects that interest her, which ranges from video games to conflicts in the world. This is someone who values support from those around her and is determined to show others what she's made of!

Alvin Liu ‘25

Student Speaker

Current York School junior Alvin recently joined a Toastmasters International club. Since then, he's been able to practice his public speaking more and is excited to give a TEDx talk about self-confidence and believing in yourself. When he's not public speaking, you may find him figuring out math problems in the library, co-leading the robotics programming sub-team, playing piano and violin, and running cross country. He hopes to share his knowledge and experiences with you.

Trevor Bernardino ‘25

Student Speaker

Trevor is a Junior at York, who is excited to give a talk for TEDxYorkSchool 2024. Some of his interests include drama, singing, volleyball, and medicine. Pursuing these different passions has helped shape his career plans. He is thrilled to share his story and how acting changed him for the better.

Winnie Wu ‘25

Student Speaker

Winnie Wu is a current 11th grade international student at York School. Hailing from Shanghai, she is an ambitious student, loves a good challenge, and participates in many extracurricular activities. She has five advanced classes this year, including three AP courses. Outside of school, she also plays several instruments and loves painting. Winnie is definitely a confident and optimistic teenager. Attending the Harvard Summer School Program this past Summer, she took college-level psychology and evolutionary biology courses. Through the stage of TEDxYorkSchool, she hopes to share some of her insights with you all.

Thomas Huston ‘26

Student Speaker

Thomas is currently a Sophomore at York School and is excited to give a TEDx talk. He enjoys sports such as cross country and track, and has hobbies such as art. These have taught him to keep trying and not give up because you can improve and succeed even if it seems like you can't do it.

Devon Hubert ‘14

Community Member

Devon spends his time pursuing his dual passions of music and computer science. After attending Berklee College of Music in 2015, he pursued a degree in Computer Science from UCSC. He is currently a private music instructor, and local performer, recording and releasing his most recent album “The Yeti Bear” on Halloween 2023. He works full time as a Software Developer/Information Systems Manager at Light & Motion, an internationally acclaimed brand that makes great bike, dive, and camera lights locally in Marina. Devon is interested in the bridge between science and art, especially relating to the recent developments in AI technology. He has used this technology in both fields, and is dedicated to helping carve a path that will benefit humanity.