An NDSU student is bringing together students and alumni to inspire and exchange ideas with the campus and Fargo community. Walter Lanza, a junior majoring in business administration, is coordinating the first TEDxNDSU, which is scheduled for Monday, April 15, at 5:30 p.m. at the McGovern Alumni Development Center. The event’s theme is “Inspire Today, Spark Tomorrow.”

“At TEDxNDSU, we passionately believe in the spirit of TED and the power of ideas worth spreading to change attitudes, lives and ultimately the world,” Lanza said. “Our events aim to ignite deep conversation and spark curiosity.”

Speakers scheduled for TEDxNDSU include:

• Josh Reimnitz, BS ’08, mass communication, is a former student body president of NDSU. He is co-executive director of Students Today Leaders Forever, which has worked with more than 19,000 young people in service-oriented trips. Reimnitz recently was elected to the Minneapolis School Board. 

• Mike Zastoupil, BS’ 12, sociology, has been working at Sanford Health in Fargo. He is returning to NDSU to pursue a major in crop and weed science. 

• Ben Clark is a senior majoring in computer science and mathematics who runs ultra-marathons to raise money and awareness for American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association. Clark ran across North Dakota in one week to raise money for flood recovery.

• Nick Conner is a freshman majoring in management communication. He created the organization “NDSU Hands and Feet,” which spreads love to homeless underprivileged individuals, helping them find their purpose.

• Kayla Houchin is a senior majoring in physical and health education. She has devoted much of her college career to service and has helped raise $42,000 for causes she is passionate about, including Bras on Broadway.

• John Narum is a freshman majoring in industrial engineering and management. He is the youngest person to ever win the World Yo-Yo Championship.

• Steve Winfrey is the director of the NDSU Memorial Union and is pursuing a doctorate in institutional analysis. He has worked to implement leadership development programs as multiple universities. Winfrey also is a certified hypnotist and a master practitioner of neuro-linguistics. 

TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share ideas. For more information on the NDSU event, visit www.facebook.com/pages/TEDx-NDSU/535029309861839. For ticket information, visit www.eventbrite.com/event/5961000513.

NDSU is recognized as one of the nation's top 108 public and private universities by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education.