West Orange High School senior Abraham Dada has received an early acceptance to Harvard University. Notification of Dada’s acceptance came the week of Dec. 12.

“We are so proud of Abraham,” said Director of Guidance Cheryl Butler.

“His guidance counselor Anna D’Elia worked very closely with the admission’s officer to ensure his acceptance and is currently working with the financial aid department at Harvard,” she stated.

Dada attended Mt. Pleasant Elementary School, Edison, Liberty, and West Orange High School. He has an older brother Andrew, WOHS Class of 2015, who is a sophomore at Temple University studying biomedical engineering. He also has seven-year-old siblings Mary Esther and Emmanuel who attend Mt. Pleasant.

Dada plans to major in Cellular Biology.

“I didn’t finish any application for other schools because I was going to wait on my Harvard decision before sending out other applications that were due Jan. 1,” Dada explained.

The senior is grateful for his acceptance into Harvard and appreciative of his education in West Orange.

“I’m blessed with wonderful teachers and coaches who have guided me throughout my learning experience,” he says. “I’m also thankful for my friends who have motivated me throughout high school and have offered me support along the way like Austin Bartola and Derek Lim. Most importantly I’m thankful for my family. My parents have been so involved and helpful throughout all of my endeavors.”

In addition to his academic strengths, Dada is a co-founder and captain of the Science Olympiad team, a varsity wrestler, class council president, and an executive board member of the Unity Club. He is also a Mountaineer Mentor and belongs to five honor societies: math, science, Escriptus, the National Honor Society, and is Vice-President of the Italian Honor Society. He has played baritone sax as a member of the award-winning marching band and participated on the Math Team and Poetry Out Loud.