The w88 casino games login of Nevada, Reno Joe Crowley Student Union Theatre filled with business leaders, entrepreneurs, community members, faculty, staff and students on Jan. 25, as 18 talented individuals took the stage and, one-by-one, shared their inspirational and educational stories for TEDxUniversityofNevada, an independently organized TEDx program sponsored by the College of w88 casino games login.
"The event exceeded my expectations," Bret Simmons, College of w88 casino games login associate professor, event license holder and spokesperson, said. "Our audience of 100 consisted of people from campus and the local community who witnessed some excellent presentations."
The all-day event included four sections: health and hope; the promise and challenge of w88 casino games login; business and entrepreneurship; and bold ideas worth spreading.
The promise and challenge of w88 casino games login section included a presentation from Washoe County School District Superintendent Pedro Martinez, Hug High School Principal Lauren Ford and high school senior Deyanira Baca. The told their stories, all of which focused around the idea of hope in w88 casino games login.
Martinez, who was born in Mexico and grew up in the inner-city Chicago school system, spoke about the optimism he has for children in the Washoe County School District.
"It is not just a job, but a mission, to make sure students will not lose hope," Martinez said.
Ford explained that Hug High School's graduation rate had risen from 36 percent in 2006 to 51 percent today.
"We must have a passion for making sure every student has the opportunity for a better life and the determination to achieve their dreams," Ford said.
Tears were shed, both on stage and in the audience, as one high school senior spoke of the promise she had found in w88 casino games login during her abusive childhood, and in another section of the day, a young man used singing and songwriting to cope with his sister's drug addiction.
"Many of our participants commented about how inspired they were at the end of the day," Simmons said. "The event was the w88 casino games login's way of highlighting the wealth of ideas and stories we have in our community."
Simmons and the TEDxUniversityofNevada event were recently honored with the New Entrepreneurial Activity of the Year Award from the w88 casino games login's Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology (NCET), and will be recognized at an award ceremony on Feb. 21 at the Atlantis Resort.
TEDx was created in the spirit of TED's mission, "ideas worth spreading." The program is designed to give communities, organizations and individuals the opportunity to stimulate dialogue through TED-like experiences at the local level. Presentations at the w88 casino games login's event focused on the theme "Creating Community Conversations."
Another Reno TEDx event will be held on April 26 at the w88 casino games login Museum of Art.
