NEWARK TEEN ACCEPTED TO 7 IVY LEAGUE SCHOOLS

Angel Ortiz, a senior at Newark’s historic Arts High School, has an exciting decision to make: which Ivy League university to attend. The 17-year-old has earned admission to seven of the eight Ivy League schools—Yale, Harvard, Princeton, Columbia, Brown, Dartmouth, and the University of Pennsylvania. Only Cornell remains.

A first-generation Latino student from Newark’s Ironbound section, Ortiz plans to study political science, with a possible minor in American studies. He hopes to visit campuses before making his final choice.

“I thought I might get into a few, but never expected this,” said Ortiz. “When the emails started coming in, I just walked around my kitchen in shock. My mom was speechless.”

Ortiz’s journey is rooted in hard work and family sacrifice. His parents, immigrants from Oaxaca, Mexico, co-own two family-run pizzerias in Belleville and Phillipsburg. “Their determination is my foundation,” he said. “This achievement is not just mine—it belongs to my whole community.”

Outside the classroom, Ortiz is deeply involved in school life. He’s treasurer of the National Arts Honor Society, a member of several academic honor societies, and an active participant in NJLEEP, where he advanced to the Debater of the Year finals in 2024.

At Arts High School, where he majors in visual arts, Ortiz has thrived creatively and academically. “It’s more than just a school—it’s home,” he said.

District leaders praised his accomplishment. Superintendent Roger León called Ortiz “a powerful symbol of what’s possible in Newark,” while Principal Regina Sharpe said he “embodies the spirit of Arts High—creative, driven, and full of purpose.”

Even with his busy schedule, Ortiz finds time to sketch, read Toni Morrison, and listen to artists like Peso Pluma, Kendrick Lamar, and Paramore.

As graduation nears, he’s focused not just on the next step, but on what lies beyond. “I hope to represent my family and community with pride,” he said. “This is just the beginning.”