Pulaski Academy & Central School District

Two Pulaski High School students recently traveled to New York City to celebrate their outstanding artistic achievements after earning national gold medals for their artwork.

Hazel Spadi and Arabella Hefti were recognized during a ceremony at Carnegie Hall on Wednesday, June 11. Each received a national gold medal, a distinction that less than 1% of national submissions achieve each year, marking a remarkable accomplishment for the artists and their school.

This is an unprecedented success for the arts department at Pulaski. Before this year, Pulaski High School had previously earned only one silver and one gold medal at the national level. Hefti’s award-winning piece is currently on display at the Scholastic Building in NYC, while Spadi’s work is shown on a rotating digital display there.

“To bring home two national gold medals this year is such an amazing accomplishment,” Pulaski Art Teacher Stacey Walton said. “Words cannot describe how proud I am of these two remarkable students.”

The awards underscore the talent and creativity of Pulaski’s young artists and celebrate their achievements on a national stage.