Theme: Rebels UniTED

TEDxYouth@SRDS is a half-day event designed to amplify student voices and celebrate the diverse ideas, passions, and perspectives of Saddle River Day School’s Upper School community. Held in our state-of-the-art Performing Arts Center—an intimate 300-seat theater equipped with professional stage lighting and sound—this event brings together students in grades 9–12 and faculty for a celebration of innovation, curiosity, and youth-driven insight.

The “@SRDS” in our name reflects the identity and community spirit of Saddle River Day School, an independent PreK3–12 school committed to fostering creativity, leadership, and global thinking. This TEDxYouth event is part of a broader school tradition of student-led storytelling, with talks ranging from scientific discovery to personal growth and global citizenship.

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

Cameron Alvaro

SRDS Student

Cameron Alvaro is a junior currently attending her third year at Saddle River Day School. She enjoys theater, debate, volleyball, and traveling! This is her second TEDx talk and she is ecstatic to be working alongside her faculty mentor Mr. Colin Riley. Her talk is focused on the psychological impact of social media and the importance of understanding its "mind games," which highlights her deep passion for psychology and human behavior.

Celine Sawyer

SRDS Student

Celine Sawyer is a new freshman at SRDS this year. She enjoys playing tennis, horseback riding, skiing, and spending time with friends. Celine was diagnosed with dyslexia when she was in 2nd grade and soon after attended Windward, a school focused on teaching kids with language based disorders, for six years. She is excited to give her first TEDx talk, aiming to raise awareness about dyslexia, challenge misconceptions, and reduce judgment, with guidance from her mentor, Roman Paolucci.

Faith Williamson

SRDS Student

Faith is a senior in her fourth year at Saddle River Day. After giving her first TEDx talk about ethics and genetic editing technology, she is excited to give her second talk on the lessons we can learn from dogs about how to live more fulfilled lives. Outside of school, Faith enjoys playing basketball, reading, spending time with her friends and family, and of course, playing with her dog. She is so grateful to be working with her amazing faculty mentor, Ms. Kim.

Jeslyn Savage

College Student

Jeslyn Savage is a junior at Rutgers University, where she is majoring in History with a minor in American Studies, pursuing a future career in criminal law. Before Rutgers, Jeslyn attended SRDS for five years, where she delivered two TEDx Talks, one on what it means to truly be empathetic and another on why you should always follow your dreams. Beyond academics, Jeslyn has actively sought opportunities to gain legal experience, including internships and shadowing experiences in the field of criminal justice. Now taking the TED stage once again, Jeslyn will discuss the power of unity, resilience, and the support systems that shape us.

Josephine Brooks

SRDS Student

Josephine is a junior thrilled to be giving her fourth TEDx Talk at SRDS. She has a passion for chemistry, art, sustainability and public speaking. In her talk “Bridging Generations” she will share her experience learning about her own family history and how it has shaped her identity. She would like to thank her faculty mentors, Ms. Baro and Ms. Hollis, for their mentorship and thoughtful guidance.

Leah Gaber

SRDS Student

Leah Gaber is a junior at Saddle River Day School, where she has been a student for three years. She enjoys staying active, cooking, and exploring new places. This is her first TEDx talk, and she has worked with her faculty mentor, Mr. Rodriguez, to prepare. Her talk, Learning through Failure: Using Setbacks as Success, explores how setbacks build resilience and pave the way to success.

Maya Kalender

SRDS Student

Maya Kalender is a high school senior passionate about Science Research and environmental protection. Over the past few years, she has learned about the significant damage chemical toxins have done to our waterways, empowering her to take action. Maya has previously done two TED talks, both centered around environmental issues. In this talk, which she developed with her advisor, Joseph McMenamin she takes a policy-centered approach. She will speak about the public health crisis that has erupted due to environmental dysregulation.

Noah Popowitz

SRDS Student

Noah Popowitz is currently a freshman in his second year at SRDS and he is excited to be giving his first TEDx Talk. He has been working so hard with his advisor, Mr. Holland creating this talk. He enjoys many things like acting, writing, skiing, swimming, and has always had a love for sea life and animals. He will be talking about how fish are being harmed in various ways, ultimately due to our actions, and how we need to come together to prevent anything worse in the future.

Sara Onik

SRDS Student

Sara is a junior in her fourth year at SRDS. She loves to be on stage, read, write, and has a passion for politics, economics, and art. This is her first talk with the club and is grateful to be working with her faculty mentor Mr. Sarhan. As a first generation American and fourth year Arabic student, Sara was inspired to talk about how history and culture influence social norms through generations and why it’s important to understand history, heritage and culture.

Scarlett Ives

SRDS Student

Scarlett Ives is a junior in her third year at SRDS and is excited to give her first TED talk. Outside of school, Scarlett is an active debate team member and enjoys playing volleyball. She has a passion for literature and psychology, which inspired her to write her talk titled “What If Happiness Is a Choice?” which explores the balance between the genetic predeterminations of happiness and the lifestyle choices that prompt joy in our lives. Scarlett would like to thank her faculty mentor, Mr. Kenneth Alrutz (Coach), for helping her throughout the process!

Thomas Isernhagen

SRDS Student

Thomas is a sophomore in his second year at SRDS and is excited to give his first TEDx talk. He would like to thank Mr. Feist for his amazing help during this whole process. Outside of TEDx, he enjoys mathematics and debate. His fascination with memorizing poetry led to his talk, which focuses on why we remember what we do, and how to use that information to our advantage when studying.

Valentina Vasquez

SRDS Student

Valentina Vasquez, a junior at SRDS, is excited to give her second TEDx talk, which she developed with her advisor, Robert Kettlewell. Outside of TED, she enjoys painting, reading, biking, and spending time with her family. She has always been passionate about clean, healthy eating and loves experimenting in the kitchen, which led her to take a deeper look at how our food affects our health. Her talk explores the impact of harmful food production in America and its role in the rise of chronic illnesses, highlighting the need for greater awareness and better food choices.