West Orange High Students ‘Pave The Way’: Valedictorian, Salutatorian

WEST ORANGE, NJ — One of the best things about West Orange High School’s valedictorian and salutatorian this year: they’re humble. But that’s just one of the reasons why Aishwarya Kanagala and Aion Ashby and have scored major praise from West Orange High School administrators.

According to school officials:

Kanagala is involved in several honor societies including French, Escriptus, math, science and the National Honor Society. She plans to major in computer science and business but is undecided on her choice of college. Her course work at WOHS includes AP classes in computer science, statistics, calculus, physics and literature along with business organization and management. She is a member of the Science Olympiad team, and her sister Mythili was the WOHS 2017 salutatorian.

"It's good to see that all my hard work paid off," Kanagala said.

Ashby plans to major in computer science and business. She performs in the chamber orchestra, studies AP classes in computer science, AP physics, statistics, calculus and business organization and management. She is a Mountaineer Mentor, a member of the Italian Club and Sports Medicine Club, and a member of the Italian, Escriptus, social studies, science and National Honor Societies. Her sister Alli Ashby graduated in 2016 and her brother Adam is a freshman at West Orange High School.

"It was exciting and unexpected to be named salutatorian," noted Ashby, "and it was shocking, kind of surreal."

“I am extremely proud of both students,” Principal Hayden Moore said. “The girls are very humble and knowing who they are as people, I'm proud to be their principal.”

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Photo: West Orange Public Schools

Caption: WOHS Class of 2018 Salutatorian Aion Asbhy, Principal Hayden Moore, and Valedictorian Aishwarya Kanagala.