Theme: TesTED

TEDxYouth@SRDS is in its 6th year at Saddle River Day School. Organized and curated by students in grades 8-12, the event takes place every Spring, usually on campus but due to Covid restrictions, it has been released as a YouTube Live event in 2020 and 2021. There are always 3 sessions, roughly 45 minutes each, that feature student talks, faculty speakers, student musical performers and poets and keynote speakers from the surrounding community.

Saddle River Day School
147 Chestnut Ridge Rd.
Saddle River, New Jersey, 07458-2803
United States

Ben/Jonah/Ryan Gleeman/Spiegel

Ben Gleeman is currently a Junior at Trinity School NYC. Ben is the co-founder of international nonprofit organization, Doorstep Donations. Along with his other co-founders, he has given more than 60,000 meals to those in need through the unique, postmates like service model of Doorstep Donations. Ben wrestles, plays the guitar, and enjoys photography. He is excited to give his first TED Talk. Jonah Gleeman is a Junior at the Ethical Culture Fieldston School in The Bronx, NYC. He is the co-founder of a nonprofit organization called Doorstep Donations that uses student-led programs to bring food to food banks and pantries. Jonah loves to play guitar, produce music, and make short films. He is excited to be a part of the TEDxYouth community and give his first TED Talk. Ryan Spiegel is a current Junior at the Ethical Culture Fieldston School in The Bronx, NYC. Ryan is the co-founder of Doorstep Donations, an international nonprofit organization. The organization has delivered upwards of 60,000 meals to food insecure individuals through its innovative approach to battling food insecurity. Ryan enjoys playing lacrosse, exploring New York City, and spending time with friends. He is excited to share his story with TED and join the TEDxYouth community.

Cheyenne Haller

Student Leader

Cheyenne Haller is a junior at SRDS who dances competitively, enjoys adventures, and loves to hang out with family and friends. Cheyenne is a Rebel Leader, Rebel Ambassador, and the Vice President of the executive student council. At school, she loves being with the lower school students, and she works at her dance studio in Waldwick, N.J. to help teach dance classes to young dancers. In the future, she would like to be an Imagineer at Walt Disney World and would love the opportunity to perform in a few shows while she’s working at Disney. Cheyenne is very excited to be giving her third TEDx talk, and would like to thank her co-leaders for another successful event!

Devin Cohen

Student

Devin Cohen is a freshman in her first year at SRDS. She loves her dogs, watching Netflix, and her friends! Today, she will be discussing mental health in the current teenage population, Generation Z. She hopes everyone enjoys her talk, and really takes her words to heart!

Eli Weinger

Student Leader

Eli Weinger is a junior in his third year at Saddle River Day. Eli plays soccer in the fall, manages the boys basketball team in the winter, and is the President of our student council. In the past two years Eli has given talks about heteronormativity and our broken election system; this year he has decided to focus on the faults of our current education system and possible solutions to these issues.

Erin Eleam

Student Speaker

Erin Eleam is a freshman at Saddle River Day, and it is her first year doing a TED talk. She dances competitively, and loves it so much that she hopes to make a career out of it, but she also enjoys art. Today Erin will be talking about culturally diverse communities. Hope you enjoy it!

Isabella Webber

Student Speaker

Isabella Webber is a freshman in her second year at SRDS. She likes playing the piano, playing tennis, and coding. In the past, Isabella has given a TED talk on the benefits of lucid dreaming. This year, she will be talking about how to build and maintain a positive mindset. Isabella is very excited to be sharing her TED talk this year.

Jeslyn Savage

Student Speaker

Jeslyn Savage is a junior in her fourth year at SRDS. She loves to read, write, play the piano, watch Netflix and spend time with her friends and family. She is the Assistant Editor of the Rebel Report and the Editor-in-Chief of Saddle River Day’s short story publication, The River. She aspires to be a journalist, lawyer and author and is very excited for you to hear her poem and TED talk!

Natalie Janowski

Student Speaker/Performer

Natalie Janowski is a junior in her fourth year at SRDS. She is a Rebel Ambassador, the Executive Treasurer, and the leader of the Interior Aesthetic Innovation club. She loves to sing, paint, act, and write. She was in the past SRDS upper school productions including Bat Boy, Steel Magnolias, Freaky Friday, Songs For a New World, and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Natalie is very excited to be giving her second TED talk and her fourth TEDxYouth performance!