WVU hosts TEDx event

MORGANTOWN — Today, nine guests will speak at WVU’s first TEDx event, including alumni, professors and students.
The event begins at 9:30 a.m., on the fourth floor of Evansdale Crossing.
According to apress release, the theme for TEDxWVU 2018 is “Leading with Hope in a Changing World,” with the intent of inspiring attendees to create and spread positivity through their lives and communities.
The event’s description reads: “The American dream has always been global. This idea of the American dream has enticed millions of people from all over the world to travel to America in search of prosperity and opportunity. But in this ever-changing landscape, many are questioning if the American dream even exists. We believe it does, it just means we need to rethink our homes, suburbs and communities. In this series of TEDx talks, the American dream isn’t lost, it’s just being redefined.”
According to its website, TED is a nonprofit devoted to spreading ideas, normally in the form of short, powerful talks of 18 minutes or less, while TEDx talks are local and self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience.
The organization’s slogan, “ideas worth spreading,” sums up its belief that ideas can change the world. Many TED talks are available for free, at ted.com.
A team of about 30 students, under the oversight of Gina Dahlia, TEDxWVU faculty chair, organized the event. The team has a variety of majors, including engineering and journalism.
An application for the event license was sent last June and approved in July, and the volunteer team started planning in earnest in September.
WVU Professor Daniel Brewster will deliver a speech titled “Be you. Be True. Be Bold.”
Brewster said being chosen to speak at WVU’s inaugural TEDx event is special and that as a lifelong Mountaineer, it means a lot to be able to represent the university.
Other speakers include Ginny Trasher, a WVU junior who won Olympic gold in 2016 in the 10 meter air rifle event, and John Ebert, who owns 41 McDonald’s franchises, including several in Morgantown.
Tickets for the talks were sold out within a week, but the event will be streamed via the Tedx WVU Facebook page.