Theme: TEDxBergenCountyAcademies

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized (subject to certain rules and regulations).

Bergen County Academies
200 Hackensack Ave
Hackensack, New Jersey, 07601
United States

Aileen Zhu

Character

Darien Fiorino

Theater Student/Intern at the American Museum of Natural History/Animal Lover

Darien Fiorino is currently a senior at the Bergen County Academies in Hackensack, NJ, where he is in the Academy of Visual and Performing Arts: Theatre Concentration. He has performed in many productions, including Shakespeare’s Cymbeline, for which he was nominated for a Montclair University Foxy Award, and many world premiers of original works. ​Darien also has a great interest in animal sciences. He is currently an intern at the American Museum of Natural History's herpetology department, and recently curated a historical taxidermy exhibit at the Hiram Blauvelt Art Museum in Oradell, NJ, recording, organizing, and identifying over 200 specimens.

Indrani Das

Research

Irmak Sensoz

Student and Economic Researcher

Irmak Sensoz is a student studying Business and Finance at BCA. After being born in the United States, she moved to Turkey, and came back to the United States at the age of 8. Her hobbies include debate and learning about US Government and Politics. As an Economic researcher, she is currently working on a project concerning the effects of monetary policy.

Melissa Cui

Artist

Olivia Cecoltan

Founder of Hand in Hand Project / Academy for Business and Finance '18 Student

From specialized ABF classes to her active involvement in internships at the Bergen County Division of Economic Development and the Millennium Challenge in Moldova, she has been passionate about learning more about the world from a business perspective. Having immigrated from Moldova, she has vowed to help disadvantaged children after seeing the difficulties that many of them face in the poorest country in Europe. Through the philosophy "it is the little things that make a big difference", she created the not-for-profit Hand in Hand Project. Having grown from a simple idea to an organization which has already raised over $1500 and supported a Moldovan orphanage through their Kit for Kids Project, Olivia will continue to reach helping hands across nations into the future.

Olivia Vladyka

Indecisive

Theo Rochlin

LGBTQ+ Advocate

Theo Rochlin is an 18 year old transgender male. He has been advocating for LGBT rights since his sophomore year in high school. He is currently a senior at Bergen County Academies. He is studying in the Academy for Engineering and Design Technology and is going to Northeastern University next fall to study biomedical physics with a premed track. He is currently an EMT and hopes to become a trauma surgeon.