TEDxNewarkAcademy

Speakers

Speakers may not be confirmed. Check the event website for the latest lineup.

• Ayanna Varma

  Ayanna Varma is a senior at Newark Academy with a passion for innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology. As a nationally ranked tennis player and co-founder of Rally for Tennis Eastern, Ayanna has combined her love for tennis and entrepreneurship to support a nationwide initiative that has raised over $300,000 to increase access to tennis for underserved youth. Her interest in technology led her to explore emerging markets in the metaverse through a BCG-led initiative, while also driving her research into the transformative potential of Central Bank Digital Currencies in wealth distribution. Ayanna also played a key role in launching NOX AI’s next-gen assistant, RPLY, focusing on user engagement and outreach strategies. At Newark Academy, she serves as a CIA, is varsity tennis captain, and is a member of EIT. In her talk, Ayanna is excited to explore how AI augments human decision-making, showcasing the power of education, adaptability, and humanity in shaping our future.

• Connor Polen

  Connor is a junior from Morristown, New Jersey attending Newark Academy. He has been ranked top 20 nationally in the 800m and 1000m for the class of 2026 in track and broke 7 school records. Connor is equally active in engineering and robotics, where he ranked in the top 30 globally at Vex World Championships. He shares this passion with others as the COO of the non-profit “Techshare” that spreads technology and training to youth around the world.

• Divya Rai

  She is an active member in SASU and knitting club. She loves playing the piano and has been playing it for over 9 years. Her favorite subjects include science, math, and Spanish. She loves traveling and her favorite trips were traveling to Italy, Santorini, and Singapore. She’s a huge dog lover since she has a 170 pound St. Bernard who is four years old.

• Jason Tebbe

  Dr Jason Tebbe has taught in independent schools for fourteen years after spending time in academia. He earned his PhD from the University of Illinois in history and has published academic journal articles and book chapters on topics ranging from 19th century German history to the works of Bob Dylan.

• Katie Liang

  Katherine Liang is a sophomore at Newark Academy. She is part of the Equity and Inclusion Team and is a leader of the Knitting Club. Knitting is one of her favorite hobbies. Katherine also enjoys reading, playing the violin and viola, and swimming. She values every day and every opportunity to learn and try something new.

• Ryan Zhu

  Ryan Zhu is a junior at Newark Academy with a deep passion for STEM and a growing interest in the medical field. As a hospital volunteer and an intern at a doctor’s office, he actively explores the intersection of science and healthcare. Beyond academics, Ryan is a two-sport varsity athlete in soccer and baseball, where his love for the game extends far beyond the field. His fascination with baseball goes beyond just playing—it fuels his interest in sports medicine, psychology, and economics. In his TEDx talk, Ryan will explore how data-driven recruiting in baseball challenges traditional thinking, connecting it to a broader theme: getting comfortable with the uncomfortable