WEST ORANGE, NJ - West Orange High School has named Emily Liew as Valedictorian and Valentina Pappano as Salutatorian for the graduating Class of 2022. The announcement was made by Principal Hayden Moore on Oct. 18 at the Conforti campus.

Emily is President of the Chinese National Honor Society, Secretary of the National Science Honor Society, and a member of the Math and National Honor Societies. She is part of the Class Council, a group of students that plan activities and events at the high school. She is also a member of the Girl Up Club, a group that supports and empowers young women.

Emily is undecided about her choice of colleges but plans to major in Computer Science.

"This is such an honor," Emily gushed. "It's great to see that all my hard work paid off."

Valentina is a member of nine honor societies: Science, Tri-M, Dance (this will be the first year the Dance Honor Society is introduced at the high school), Thespian, Italian, Math,  English, Social Studies, and National. She is also a member of of the Girl Up club.

Her love of dance and musical theater have served her well as Dance Captain for all four years, in teaching choreography at the high school to dance and musical theater students, and at the Saddle River Youth Theater.

Pappano has worked as a voluntary teacher for Unique Dance Performance and A Class Act in New York City. She plans to major in Finance and Economics and Minor in Dance.

"I'm so excited and very happy," she said upon learning that she had been named Salutatorian.

"We are all so proud of Emily and Valentina," began Principal Hayden Moore.

"They are not only outstanding students academically, but they are compassionate and caring individuals that have brought so much to our high school in the four years that they have been with us. They embody the true spirit of what it means to be a Mountaineer and I know they will be successful in whatever they do."

Valedictorian Emily Liew, Principal Hayden Moore, Salutatorian Valentina Pappano.

School Guidance Counselor Rachel Rosen, Valedictorian Emily Liew, Principal Hayden Moore, Salutatorian Valentina Pappano, and School Guidance Counselor Margaret Fahey.