West Orange Teen Scores Kudos From BOE After Nailing Down Perfect SAT

WEST ORANGE, NJ — A high-achieving teen in West Orange got a big round of applause during a recent board of education meeting.

Sahli Negassi of West Orange recently joined an elite group of scholars: less than 1 percent of test-takers who earn a perfect SAT score every year.

Negassi, a senior at West Orange High School, scored a dazzling 1600. The ambitious teen has also excelled in cross country/track and varsity chess, served as president of the math team and chapter president of the National Honor Society, and has been part of the Royal Strings ensemble.

The teen hopes to attend Harvard and pursue a law career. Read More: Inspiring West Orange Teen Earns Perfect SAT Score

Negassi earned recognition for his achievement at the West Orange Board of Education’s Feb. 24 meeting, getting a glowing introduction from West Orange High School Principal Oscar Guerrero and Superintendent Hayden Moore.

“As I understand it, you have me here today because on some level you believe I have done something impossible,” he told attendees at the meeting. “And by being here, what I've done is said: ‘This is something we are capable of doing as a school and as a community if we're audacious enough to go for it.’”

Negassi offered some words of encouragement for anyone listening:

“So moving forward, to the kids, and to the parents out there, I think the question we have to ask is: ‘Do you want to look like this one day? Is this what you'd like to be? Because this is an option for you. This is the future available to you. And to our parents, our teachers, and our administrators, our question is how can we make this the first of many?’”

Negassi got a rousing round of applause after his speech. Watch footage below (video is cued to the presentation).

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