Lustbader, Yao named Valedictorian, Salutatorian

Livingston High School senior Zach Lustbader has been chosen as the class of 2012 Valedictorian and Peter Yao has been chosen as the class Salutatorian, school officials announced.

Lustbader has been described as possessing a natural intelligence and scholastic ability evident by his perfect SAT score, straight A’s and course load consisting of six Advanced Placement courses.

Lustbader is the president of The Organization of Student Tutors, which matches student tutors with other students struggling in a particular subject. He volunteers his time collecting, organizing and donating food to senior citizens and assists children as a counselor and tutor at a local day camp. 

Lustbader is also a very talented musician, participating in the LHS Marching Band and other local and regional bands in Northern New Jersey. He has received many honors including, but not limited to, first place in an individual event at the Future Business Leaders of America National Leadership Conference, being recognized as one of the 150 top students in the nation in the National Science Olympiad, and receiving first place for public speaking at the University of Pennsylvania’s Public Forum Debate.

Yao has taken the most rigorous courses offered at Livingston High School and has not shied away from those he found challenging. He thrives on new knowledge seeking it out beyond the classroom. Hands on learning, articles and YouTube enable him to stretch the limits of his mind, doing what he enjoys – learning and absorbing new information.

In addition to his academic achievements, Peter participates in many extracurricular activities such as Science Olympiad, Future Business Leaders of America and New Jersey Governor’s School. He spent more than 100 hours training to become a certified EMT and volunteers at Saint Barnabas Medical Center weekly.   

Both students are still waiting to hear back from the colleges and universities they have each applied to.