Theme: XYZ: Constants and Variables Across Generations

TEDxYouth@SRDS is a locally organized TEDx event at Saddle River Day School, in Saddle River, New Jersey. The event focuses on student speakers, as well as a few other members of the community, and their passions, ideas, and innovations. This year is the second TEDxYouth@SRDS.

147 Chestnut Ridge Road
Saddle River, New Jersey, 07458
United States

Ava Desiderio

Environmental Activist

Ava Desiderio is a high school sophomore, an aspiring scientist, a classical dancer, and a self-professed “huge nerd”. She protests (often with her family) all across New York State, and hopes to make a real difference in the world. She loves her dogs and vegan ice cream. Today, on the TEDx stage, Ava shares what it is like to live life as an activist.

Caitlin Chan

Observer of Human Behavior

Caitlin Chan is a high school senior with a penchant for bad puns and poetry (which she believes are almost the same thing). When she's not eating, she can be found planning her next meal over an episode of “Stranger Things”. She is excited to be giving her first talk on the TEDx stage at TEDxYouth@SRDS, where she will discuss the science behind attraction.

Emmy Glick

Actress + Student

Emmy Glick is a fifteen year old sophomore who loves singing, acting, and dancing. She has performed at Carnegie Hall, the opening of the One World Trade Center, and Yankee Stadium. This is her second TEDx Talk. When she grows up she wants be a casting director and give child actors the same experience she had. Today she will speak to you about recovering from tragedy.

Lily Vellekamp

Feminist

Lily Vellekamp is a high school sophomore here at SRDS and works at a burger restaurant in her spare time. She grew up in New Jersey, is an only child, and lives with her mom. She plays six musical instruments and desperately wants a pet bunny. Her talk today on the TEDx stage presents her feminist view of the society she lives in, but she is not here to rant. Instead, find yourself inspired and engaged by Lily’s passion and fiery words during her second talk at TEDxYouth@SRDS.

Marybeth McDonough

Shakespearean Scholar

Marybeth McDonough has been teaching high school English for ten years, the last five at Saddle River Day School. She is a middle child, likes movies more than the average person, and she does not want to pet your dog (sorry!). She is thrilled to be here today for her first appearance on the TEDx stage and will shock and awe you with tales of the Bard himself, William Shakespeare.

Michael Zhang

Diversity Advocate + Foodie

Michael Zhang is a high school junior and future expert gastronomer who says “I don’t care about my weight as long as my stomach is satisfied.” He is here today at TEDxYouth@SRDS to talk to you about using food to embrace diversity and our own unique identities.

Rebecca Pall

High School Student + Futurist

Rebecca Pall is a high school junior and has been here at SRDS since 2013. She has lived in New Jersey for her entire life, and loves dogs, helping people, writing, and music. In case you were wondering, her favorite color is purple. Today, during her second appearance on the TEDx stage, she will share with you her unique insights about how we can each design our own path in life.

Richard Pandich

Historian + Teacher

Richard Pandich is the chair of the History Department at SRDS and has been teaching there since 2008. He previously taught in Asheville, NC, Rye, NY, and San Jose, CA. His favorite color is blue. Today, on the TEDxYouth@SRDS stage, he will inspire and entertain you with a talk about pet peeves.

Sam Cohen

Mental Health Activist

Sam Cohen is a high school sophomore finishing up her first year here at SRDS. She is an avid photographer, having graduated a four-week photography program at the New York Film Academy and hopes to one day use her photographs to make a difference in the world. More than anything else, she loves dogs. Here today at TEDxYouth@SRDS, Sam will discuss the stigma surrounding mental illness, and what each of us can do to change things for the better.

Syeda Islam

Media Consumer + Student

Syeda Islam is a sophomore at SRDS giving her second talk at a TEDx event (which is ironic since she has terrible stage fright). She likes reading and watching Netflix and can't play a sport to save her life. She refuses to have a favorite color. She spends time worrying about everything that exists, will soon exist, or ceases to exist. Can someone say existential crisis? Today, on the TEDxYouth@SRDS stage, she will share her views on fear-mongering in the media.