College 2019

Major in Biological Physics

Minors in STIA & Biology

"We all deserve something better, but how do we go about showing the rest of the world that we really do deserve to have it all? In a world where being entitled is frowned upon, we can aspire to and better position ourselves to be entitled to the things we want to deserve."

Too often, we smother out our own fires - be it our passions or beliefs - because we fear they stray too far from the status quo. Park will show us that if we can admire not just others, but also ourselves for daring to actively pursue our passions, then we'll find success. Not all things have to be refined or fit a certain mold to be considered complete. Perhaps, our jagged edges are the cornerstone of our personal successes.

College 2019

Major in Biology of Global Health

Minor in African American Studies

"Black women have started 'talking back,' but it is still a fact that Black women’s stories have been erased, ignored, and generally unacknowledged. For my talk, I'm going to discuss what Black women, as well as society, can do to address the original injuries inflicted and preclude recurrence, as well as what remedies exist that'll make black women whole again. "

Pruitt is excited both about the knowledge she will gain from those listening to her speak, as well as the knowledge she will gain from those speaking alongside her.

College 2019

Major in Government

Minors in History & Sociology

"Meaningful connections are crucial to our wellbeing, but what is life like without friends? As someone with obsessive-compulsive disorder, I will discuss the struggles of forming and maintaining friendships, and how I'm working to be brave."

Strength can be found even in times of weakness and Ryman hopes to inspire the Georgetown community to find the bravery to reach out for help. Her non-traditional journey to the Hilltop brought an underlying struggle with mental illness to the surface as she works to actively destigmatize mental illness and speak about the value of human connection.

College 2019

Majors in Government & African-American Studies

"Exceptionalism: the condition of being different from the norm. We must go beyond a praxis of change centered around creating exceptions to the norm and statistics of marginalized communities. We ignore a large group of people who are both worth and capable of change. We place an unreasonable burden on those we deem as the exceptions to be the measuring stick and leaders of change. This talk will challenge how we think of our communities and the people in them."

Long considers himself a community project. Traditions of storytelling and oral histories from his youth have caused him to take on a larger responsibility to a legacy that connects back to the African diaspora. Long seeks to ignite a long-term commitment to expanding attitudes of inclusion and diversity.

Georgetown University Law Center 2019

"What do you do? That is the most common question spoken in this city, but each of us is more than a career choice or school choice. I hope to challenge everyone to intentionally listen to the stories of all the people you will meet in this life. My personal story has taught me that the GPS guide to the road not taken is in our gut. Find out how I reconnected with my internal GPS from a Washington DC hospital room to this very stage with all of you."

Desiree has deep roots in community engagement, political campaigns, and government affairs. She has worked for several national nonprofits, The White House, and U.S. Congress to name a few. She is a member of the Black Law Student Association and serves as a peer mentor-advisor.

McDonough School of Business 2019

Major in Marketing

Minor in African American Studies

Certificate in Entrepreneurship

"For the “by-the-book” teacher who sees their job solely as a means to educate students about a particular subject, I commend you, but this talk is not for you. This talk is for the teacher that values building relationships with their students. The ones who believe that understanding the lives of their students builds trust and increases performance. This talk is for the teachers who want to become more curious."

In addition to being a student on the hilltop and a Community Scholar, Jerome is also a motivational speaker, youth influencer, and author from Charleston, SC. He is the founder and CEO of SmallTalk LLC, a youth speaker's bureau dedicated to the missions of motivating youth, empowering educators, and connecting students and teachers through storytelling.

College 2019

Majors in Economics & Philosophy

"When my brother was diagnosed with autism, everything changed. Growing up with adjusted expectations for his life taught me to value what I would otherwise take for granted. Let me change the way you think about opportunity."

Inspired by her family, Lupa seeks to challenge issues faced by people on the autistic spectrum. Through a reflection of her brother's struggle with autism, she wants to ignite her audience members with excitement about their opportunities and insists that we all have the right to make a life for ourselves.

College 2019

Major in Economics

Minor in Portuguese

"Partisan politics that demand we pick a side for all issues make us forget that the complexity of our humanity cannot be reduced to one simple identity. I will be sharing about how I processed my identity as an undocumented immigrant in the evangelical Christian space after the 2016 election."

Martinez is most looking forward to unpacking the intersection of her identity as an evangelical Christian and a DACAmented immigrant through the platform of TEDxGeorgetown.