TEDxOCU 2024 Highlights

On Wednesday, April 19, 2024, Oakland City University held its second TED talk.  The TED organization granted OCU the right to host its second event after a successful inaugural TED in 2023.  The TED organization allows universities, communities, civic organizations, and others to host TED events.  Only two actual TED talks are held in the United States each year.  However, other TEDx events are held annually in the United States and other countries.  TED Talks are aimed at a global audience, while TEDx talks are designed for smaller audiences. 

TED is defined as holding discussions on Technology, Entertainment, and Design (TED). 

OCU's TEDx event was led by Dr. Luke Douglas and organized by Dr. Douglas and the OCU Development, Marketing, and Communications team.  TEDxOCU2 was held in the Cornwell-Reed Recital Hall on Oakland City University's campus.  The doors opened at 8:30 AM CT, with the first speaker, Hannah Heusman, of Ashland, VA, enthralling the near-capacity crowd promptly at 9:00 AM CT.  Ms. Heusman is the Mental Performance Coach for the World Series Champion Texas Rangers and other individuals and organizations. 

The OCU TEDx team searches each year for two speakers that fit into the categories of: 

• Outside OCU Professionals/Entrepreneurs 
• OCU Alumni 
• OCU Professors
• OCU Students 
• High School Students     

As defined by the TED organization, each speaker is limited to 18 minutes.  The ten speakers TEDxOCU2 speakers and their topics were:       

1. Hannah Heusman
   Residence: Ashland, VA 
   Profession: Mental Performance Coach – Texas Rangers of MLB
   Subject: Who are you and what are you doing here? How to Succeed When You Are The Minority 

2. Dr. Greg Dillon
   Residence: Newburgh, IN
   Profession: Entrepreneur – World Speaker – Self-Defense Master
   Subject: The Four Principles of L.O.V.E.
   

3. Eli Chapman
   Residence: Evansville, IN 
   Student: Senior – Evansville Christian School
   Subject: The Masculinity of Young Men in Today’s Society 

4. Ashley Nora
   Residence: Anderson, IN 
   Profession: Artist
   Subject: The Art of Belief. Navigating the Journey from Doubt to Destiny 

5. Grace Bennett
   Residence: Evansville, IN 
   Student: Senior – Evansville Christian School
   Subject: Advocating for Invisible Illnesses 

15-minute Break – Lunch is served in room 109 on the lower level of this building. 

6. Matt Murphy
   Residence: Boonville, IN 
   Profession: Pastor – Adjunct Professor OCU
   Subject: Make a Difference: Here, There, and Everywhere 

7. Brad Ford
   Residence: Evansville, IN 
   Profession: Owner – Vineyard Financial
   Subject: The Power of Compound Interest 

8. Jonathan Hoppenstedt
   Student - OCU
   Subject: Giving the Gift of Life 

9. Stan Wilm
   Residence: Haubstadt, IN
   Profession: Special Education Instructor and Disability Coordinator - OCU 
   Subject: The Hidden Curriculum” Why Teacher-Student Relationships Matter More Than You Think.” 

10. Dr. Sarah Wilson
    Residence: Newburgh, IN
    Profession: Director of Honors Program and Associate Professor of Chemistry - OCU
    Subject: The Art and Science of Increasing Chemistry Self-Efficacy 

Those in attendance included OCU students, faculty, and staff members, Ivy Tech students and instructors, a University of Southern Indiana professor, local citizens, and civic leaders.  A free lunch was provided for those attending and catered by Zia Barbecue of Oakland City.