WEST ORANGE, NJ — The following news release comes courtesy of the West Orange Public School District. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.
West Orange High School is proud to announce Zachary Jaffee as the Valedictorian and Anna Ott as the Salutatorian of the Class of 2027. Jaffee earned a GPA of 4.7942, while Ott earned a 4.7665. Both students have distinguished themselves through their academic achievements, extracurricular involvement, and contributions to the West Orange community.
Zachary Jaffee, Valedictorian
A West Orange resident since the age of five, Jaffee attended Golda Och Academy and Liberty Middle School before entering WOHS. Throughout high school, he has balanced a demanding academic schedule with athletics, student leadership, and community service.
A four-year varsity tennis player who has competed in singles and doubles, Jaffee earned team MVP recognition and has helped mentor younger teammates. He has also served as class president and secretary, co-president of the Jewish Student Union, and a member of Science League, Mountaineer Mentors, and Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA).
Outside of school, Jaffee serves as co-vice president of the Teen Council Board at the Interfaith Food Pantry of the Oranges, where he has helped organize food distributions, fundraisers, and the annual turkey drive.
Several WOHS educators have played important roles in shaping his academic interests. He credits Ms. DeMaio for sparking an unexpected interest in psychology, Mr. Denburg for demonstrating the real-world applications of statistics, and Ms. Emolo for helping him become a stronger writer. He also recognizes Mr. Norville for making challenging calculus coursework enjoyable and Coach Maz for teaching lessons about perseverance, responsibility, and composure through tennis.
This past summer, Jaffee completed an internship at PlayStar, an iGaming company, where he worked on market research, competitor analysis, and an artificial intelligence project. The experience reinforced his interest in business and finance.
Jaffee hopes to attend Duke University, although he is considering several other universities, including Michigan, Vanderbilt, Emory, UVA, UNC, and UT Austin. He plans to study business with a focus on finance and is interested in a future career in investment banking, private equity, or wealth management.
Despite his academic success, Jaffee says the relationships he has built at WOHS are among his proudest accomplishments.
"I hope that when people think back on me at West Orange, they remember someone who was friendly and authentic, and who made an effort to get along with everyone," he shared.
Jaffee credits his parents, Paul and Rachel, along with his friends, teachers, and coaches, for helping him reach this milestone. He specifically recognizes classmates Nava Brickman and Jeremy Cerruto for their academic support and friendship, as well as Ben Fox and Toby Raabe for motivating him through friendly academic competition.
His advice to younger students is to take freshman year seriously, develop strong study habits, and make an effort to connect with people throughout the school community.
Anna Ott, Salutatorian
Ott moved to West Orange at age ten, attending St. Cloud Elementary School and Edison Middle School before spending two years homeschooling and eventually enrolling at WOHS.
Throughout high school, Ott has pursued a wide range of academic, artistic, and extracurricular interests. She is a member of the National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, Math Team, and Science League. During her junior year, she served as vice president of both the Chinese Club and National Chinese Honor Society.
Ott has also participated in the WOHS kung fu team, Honors Chamber Choir, and volunteer tutoring in mathematics, physics, and Chinese.
Her accomplishments extend well beyond academics. An accomplished artist, Ott earned two Silver Keys in the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards for ceramics and drawing, and one of her ceramic pieces was selected for the 2025 National K-12 Ceramics Exhibition in Salt Lake City.
She also earned third place in the 2024 U.S. National Chinese Music Video Competition and first place in the 2024 New Jersey "Sing to Learn Chinese" Contest.
Ceramics has been one of Ott's favorite classes at WOHS, offering an opportunity to explore her creativity while balancing challenging academic coursework.
Ott credits school counselor Ms. Millington for her guidance throughout high school, particularly with course scheduling and the college application process. She also recognizes her parents for their support during a particularly demanding junior year, when SAT preparation, AP exams, college planning, and her driving test all seemed to happen at once.
Reflecting on being named Salutatorian, Ott says the recognition is especially meaningful because it was never a goal she specifically set out to achieve.
"I didn't set out to become salutatorian, I just tried to do my best in each class and appreciate what I learned along the way," she shared.
Ott is still considering her college options and has expressed a particular interest in the humanities, especially history and language. She hopes to continue exploring her interests before deciding on a major or career path.
Her advice to younger students is to come to class prepared, take advantage of opportunities to try new things, and enjoy their time in high school.
Recognizing Academic Excellence
"Zachary and Anna have worked hard to earn these honors, and I'm incredibly proud of both of them," said WOHS Principal Oscar Guerrero. "Their accomplishments reflect their dedication in the classroom, but also the many ways they've contributed to our school community. They've made the most of their time at WOHS, and I look forward to seeing what they accomplish next."
For both students, these honors represent years of dedication, the support of family and friends, and the opportunities they have embraced throughout their time at West Orange High School.
Congratulations to Zachary Jaffee and Anna Ott on this well-deserved recognition!
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