Staff

Meet the team driving NEXT Horizon’s mission to empower the next generation of STEM leaders through accessible STEM education.

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Founders

Wenhao Lu
Wenhao Lu

Founder, Co-President

Wenhao is a USAJMO qualifier, earning an Honorable Mention, and scored 11 on the AIME. He is also in the USACO Gold division. His favorite math subjects are combinatorics and algebra. Outside of math, he enjoys playing club baseball, and his club team reached a peak Perfect Game ranking of #75 nationally. You can find him on Discord as welu28_.

David Zhang
David Zhang

Founder, Co-President

David is an AIME qualifier who scored an 8, competes in the USACO Gold Division, earned a perfect score on the AMC 8, placed on the Distinguished Honor Roll (top 1%) for the AMC 10, and he has recently finished at the 13th place for HMMT individual rounds. He is also a competitive chess player with a USCF rating of 2000, with a peak ranking of top 50 in his age group nationwide. In his free time, David enjoys competing in track and field, playing basketball, and reading books. His favorite book is All About Love: New Visions by Bell Hooks.

Andrew Zhao
Andrew Zhao

Founder, Vice President

Andrew is in the USACO Gold Division and has experience in C++, Java, JavaScript, React, Vue, and Python. When he's not coding, he likes to play basketball, listen to music, and go to cafes. This year, he aims to tackle more complex coding problems and explore machine learning.

Jonathan Liu
Jonathan Liu

Founder, Secretary

Jonathan is a USACO Silver and an AMC 8 Honorable Mention. His favorite math subject is geometry. In his free time, he enjoys playing basketball, drawing, and learning how to cook his favorite foods. This year, he aims to tackle more challenging math and programming problems and complete personal coding projects.

Mentors

Charlie Yang
Charlie Yang

Head Mentor

Charles is a three-time AIME qualifier and has earned Distinguished Honor Roll on the AMC 10. He conducts independent research, with findings presented at several academic conferences. Outside of academics, he plays AAA ice hockey and has competed on his school’s varsity team for two years. In his free time, he enjoys watching films and listening to music.

Adi B.
Adi B.

Head Mentor

Recently (2026), Adi has qualified in the AIME by taking the AMC 10. He got a Bronze Medal in the Math League International Competition, Honor Roll on AMC 8, and an award in New Jersey Youth Symphony. Adi also made it to the state level in robotics by winning the innovation award. In his free time, Adi frequently visits local parks to enjoy scenic views and loves drinking matcha.

Nathan Zaltsman
Nathan Zaltsman

Mentor

By taking our workshops, classes, and programs, Nathan has been able to master the fundamentals of competitive coding and advanced to the USACO Silver Division. He enjoys challenges that push him to think strategically and critically, which is reflected in his passion for playing competitive chess. Alongside his academic interests, Nathan is dedicated to staying active and regularly works out to maintain both physical and mental balance.

Collin Dew
Collin Dew

Mentor

Collin is a national K to 12 chess champion who competed for five years, building discipline, strategic thinking, and focus through high level competition. He is currently training for ISEF, where he applies mathematical reasoning and research skills to long term projects. Alongside academics, Collin played organized baseball for seven years and remains active through running and recreational basketball. Outside of school, his biggest hobbies are fishing and skiing, and he also enjoys writing as a creative outlet.

Damayne Anderson
Damayne Anderson

Mentor

As a former alumnnus of Next Horizon and winner of the inaugural hackathon, Damayne has recognized the essential factors of success within students, making him an effective mentor. Through our programs in competitive coding and math, he has been able to achieve a promotion to USACO Silver. He specializes in both programming and mathematics and has experience with HTML, CSS, and Javascript. Outside of his academics, Damayne enjoys playing basketball and working out.

Jacob Rotella Riggers
Jacob Rotella Riggers

Mentor

Jacob has competed at the VEX VRC World Championships, showcasing elite performance in robotics at the highest international level. He is a strong mathematician and programmer, known for quickly grasping advanced concepts and applying them effectively in both competitive and academic settings. Outside the classroom, Jacob is a dedicated runner, training seriously for distance events, while also competing in baseball, where he balances athletic discipline with teamwork and consistency. He remains deeply involved in robotics, continuing to innovate, build, and code while pursuing technical excellence. Jacob is recognized for his work ethic, versatility, and ability to excel across STEM, athletics, and competition.

Leonardo "Leo" Edward Pattison
Leonardo "Leo" Edward Pattison

Mentor

Leo Pattison is known for his strong work ethic and wide range of interests. He is an active member of the school’s track and soccer teams, where he has developed discipline, teamwork, and determination, while also excelling academically with a particular interest in math and coding. Intrigued by problem-solving and technology, Leo enjoys exploring how logical ideas can turn into real-world solutions. In his free time, he volunteers at local math and coding workshops, teaching elementary school students and helping them build confidence in their skills, which has strengthened his leadership and passion for learning and giving back to the community.

Stanley Kem
Stanley Kem

Mentor

Stanley Kem is a two-time placer in nationally recognized writing competitions, excelling particularly in short story writing. He is also a highly competitive soccer player, serving as captain of a top 10 nationally ranked Elite Club National League (ECNL) team, where he demonstrates exceptional leadership and dedication while competing at numerous national events, including playoffs. In addition to his athletic and literary achievements, Stanley has had three artworks recognized regionally and showcased, and he is actively preparing for hackathons, reflecting his creativity and technical initiative across disciplines.

Pietro Loraschi
Pietro Loraschi

Mentor

Through attending our workshops, classes, and programs, Pietro has been recently promoted to the USACO Silver Division. This year (2026), Pietro prepares to qualify in the USAPhO through the F=MA contest. He is also a two-time top placer in the World Scholar's Cup, earning recognition at the global level for excellence in debate, collaborative writing, and interdisciplinary knowledge. He also enjoys playing and performing guitar.

Tashi Satish
Tashi Satish

Mentor

Tashi has qualified for the VEX VRC World Championships, competing at the highest level of international robotics. He is heavily involved in robotics, contributing through engineering, problem-solving, and teamwork in competitive environments. Tashi also plays soccer at a competitive club level, showing discipline and commitment alongside his academic interests. Tashi continues to excel in STEM while managing demanding extracurriculars.