TEDx to come to PSU once more

Pittsburg State has partnered with TEDx again and will be hosting TEDxPittsburgStateUniversity for the second year in a row on March 26. The event starts at 6 p.m. Seating is limited, and ticket sales opened Monday and will go until they are sold out. Tickets can be purchased in the ticket office and the event will be held at the Bicknell center. 

“Students, faculty, staff and community members can expect to see some really terrific presenters share their thoughts on ideas near and dear to many of us,” said Mark Johnson, professor of technology and one professor organizing the event. “We will have young people tell about their personal journeys and some very bright people make us rethink everything from retail shopping, the supposedly looming deficit, and how the arts fit into the way we think. We will also hear about community collaborations from building neighborhoods to parks that enrich our lives. All in all, they should expect to be challenged, inspired, and enlightened.” 

There will be twelve speakers with three of the twelve being students here at Pittsburg State and three more being faculty. Other speakers include members of the community and surrounding areas such as Springfield and Joplin, Missouri. 

“We will have 12 live presentations and 2 TED TALK recorded videos,” Johnson said. “They were chosen from 34 applicants from all over the country, whittled down to 15 that auditioned and 12 that were selected from a panel of faculty, students and staff at PSU.” 

This year’s theme for talks is “Creating Community Through Collaboration.” Last year Courtney Blankenship, 2018 graduate in political science and communication came up with the idea to host a TEDx event on Pittsburg State’s campus. 

“We have a steering committee that helps organize the event,” Johnson said. “It includes Sydney Anselmi, director of community engagement, myself and members of the Student Government Association. The committee identifies a theme, which is this year “Building Community Collaboration. We select the date for the event, then begin planning backward, including doing an invite to the public for auditions for the event, the selection process, a dress rehearsal, and finally planning for the evenings event.” 

This year will provide audience members with knowledge from a diverse set of speakers covering a diverse set of topics that will spark ideas for ways they can make a change, according to Johnson. 

“It is a tremendous experience,” Johnson said. “This is my third TEDx experience, having presented at the TEDx in Louisburg, Kansas and then helping host last year’s and this year’s Pitt State Event. It is a wonderful opportunity to share creative and inspirational ideas that can engage the community. We get to hear from young people, young professionals, and older members of the community that share a broad variety of ideas and perspectives.” 

Students will need their student ID to purchase tickets and tickets are open to the public as well. There are only fifty tickets available for faculty and staff members.