This TEDxGrandCanyonUniversity inaugural event explores how individual voices, actions, and ideas come together to form something greater than the sum of their parts. Be Part of Something Great invites you to see yourself not as a single contributor, but as an essential piece of a larger whole.

Through powerful talks and shared perspectives, this theme explores how connection, collaboration, and purpose turn personal impact into collective change. Because the bigger picture only works when we’re all part of it.

Magnum Opus is a latin term that translates to "great work." Traditionally, this term is used to describe an artist's greatest piece of work. But this extends beyond art and into ideas and innovations.

This theme explores the idea that everyone is in the process of creating something incredible. It's a reflection on purpose, perseverance, and a determined pursuit of excellence.

Elevate is about intentional action to improve. It's taking ideas, individuals, and communities beyond their current state.

This theme challenges us to look past where we are, and to imagine where we could be through purpose and perspective. It showcases stories of growth, transformation, and progress — moments where improvement didn't just happen, but where improvement was intentionally sought for. 

Truth isn't always hidden. Sometimes it's just overlooked. In Plain Sight explores the idea that clarity is often closer than we realize.

In search of innovation and answers, we often overlook what is already there. This theme encourages us to slow down, change perspectives, and recognize the answers that have been right in front of us the entire time. 

From blue checkmarks to credentials, we rely on outside validation to define what — and who — matters.

Verified pushes us to explore authenticity, identity, and worth beyond external approval. It urges us to examine what truly validates us. In a world where verification is the proof of legitimacy and the symbol of value, what verifies you? 

A word not confined to a singular definition. It’s found in the lights you turn on, the emotions you feel, the influence you wield. It’s everywhere.

PWR isn’t just electricity or authority, it’s a concept that shows up in so many layers of human life. It challenges us to uncover stories and insights that usually go unnoticed. It’s a driving force that shapes who we are.

What does it mean to be at SQUARE ONE? For many, it represents a recent setback. Other times, it represents a clean slate. For some, it is the deliberate decision to re-examine one's circumstances and start anew with a different perspective. Countless figures over the course of history have experienced it, and grapple with its implications in numerous ways.

We at TEDxGCU invite you to ponder the messages of the following speakers, and consider how you may apply their lessons to your own understanding. How might you be at SQUARE ONE and what does it mean for you?

Those venturing into uncharted territory encounter new challenges, opportunities, and potential risks. This is what TEDx is all about — new ideas that bring up potentials. It refers to stepping outside of one's comfort zone and venturing into unfamiliar areas of growth, self-discovery, and personal transformation. It represents a willingness to explore new aspects of yourself, take risks, and embrace the unknown in order to expand your capabilities and potential. As college students, our main audience, so much of the next years of our life is uncharted — leaving school for the first time, being in your twenties, getting a full time job. Speakers can help us navigate the currents of personal development with resilience, adaptability, and an unwavering belief in our ability to explore uncharted territory and unlock the opportunities of greatness that come with the unknown.

Every thread in the tapestry of life serves a purpose, but many remain loose, waiting to be woven into something greater. LOOSE THREADS invites speakers to explore how untapped potential can be transformed into a meaningful purpose. It calls to recognize the connections between seemingly unrelated ideas, experiences, or ambitions, tying them together to create a powerful, cohesive story. This year's TEDx event celebrates the loose threads in all of our lives, the potential waiting to be realized, and invites everyone to become intentional about weaving purpose into the fabric of their future.